Waiting…

I was reading in Psalm 40:1-3 the other day and noticed something.
I know we talked about waiting recently, but this was pretty interesting and eye opening for me.

“I waited patiently for the LORD;”

It starts off pretty straight forward, David is waiting for God. For what? David doesn’t mention sickness or enemies so we can conclude that perhaps he was struggling with some doubt, a problem, feeling despondant, etc. David knows the only way out, the only relief, the only victory is when His Mighty God moves.

In his book, “Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools” Tyler Stanton shares: “The thing that calms fear isn’t faith; it’s trust. Faith is the assurance of what we hope for. Trust is confidence in the character of God. Before we can have faith that God will answer a given request, we simply have to learn to trust the character of God.”

When I am struggling to trust God in an area of my life, my prayers become small - my waiting is impatient or half-hearted. I am not really believing that God will move in that situation.
Trusting the character of God comes from knowing Him. If I’m struggling with trust I need to ask myself what am I missing about Him?

Here’s what I noticed: When David waited for God then God did six things for David.

“he TURNED to me and HEARD my cry.”

David patiently waited for God, there is humility in that. He was not demanding or having a temper tantrum. There was an expectation that God would answer him. God would bring relief. David trusted God and trusted His timing and by doing that God responds by TURNING towards David and HEARING what he is saying. I love that!

David still had to wait but he waited with assurance that God would answer.

“He LIFTED me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire,”

When we wait for God to move He does all the heavy lifting. He is not repulsed by where we are. He comes with His might and power and lifts us out of what is dragging us down - mentally, physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually.
We do not have to struggle to find a way out of the pit we are in, circling back to trusting Him. If we’re not convinced He can or will do it, we are left to figure it out on our own. Which is exhausting and not sustainable.

“He SET my foot on a rock and GAVE me a firm place to stand.”

Think back to a time when you were on a beach and standing at the edge of the water. The tide comes in and as it’s going back out it takes some of the sand from under your feet and you sink, maybe get a little unsteady. Now compare that feeling to a time when you were on solid ground. Big difference, right?

God doesn’t just LIFT us up to place us back at the edge of the pit, where we could stumble and fall back in. No! God takes the time to walk over, holding us in His arms, and SET us on a solid, firm place. A solid place where we can rest, regroup, catch our breath, clean off and get ready to move forward. I love that about Him!

We see a change here in the next verse:

“He PUT a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”

David’s expectant, patient waiting leads to God’s moving on his behalf which brings David to praise God for what He has done for him!

There is no time line for how long David waited until God TURNED, HEARD, LIFTED, SET and GAVE.
Seeing God move brought David to a place of worship and a place of testimony, where others heard and saw how God moved for David. Seeing God move on our behalf will PUT give us a new song of thanksgiving and gratitude for Who God is and What He can do!

Others are watching your walk with God. What are they seeing? Frustration? Trust? Irritation? Expectancy? Struggling? Resting? Curses? Praise?

I don’t know if you’re in a pit or on a rock or some areas of your life are solid, while other areas the sand is being washed away.
I do know that David teaches us a valuable lesson in how to wait. How to be expectant and rest. That knowing Who God is and His character is paramount to trusting Him.

I pray that wherever you are, you take this lesson and apply it to your waiting, culminating in your rescue and praise!

Have the most amazing day!
ALL My Love ~
Jodi xo

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