Waiting Patiently
Psalm 40:1 (ESV) says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” There is no overly complicated technique or strategy involved in getting God’s attention. We do not have to make a loud noise or do something radical to win his help. God faithfully responds to those who call upon him and patiently wait.
It may come as a surprise to think that our role in this conversation could be so minimal. David wrote this psalm when he was in serious trouble. saying in Psalm 40:2 (ESV), “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
Stuck in a literal or figurative pit, David chose to wait on the Lord and simply call for help. When he does, God immediately steps into action. He draws David up out of the pit and sets his feet on a rock. David goes on to say that he put a new song in his mouth––a hymn of praise to God!
That sounds good for David, and we might agree with it on paper, but things change when we find ourselves stuck in the pit. It could be a temptation that keeps dragging you down. It might be relational problems, lies, fears, or discouragement. When those dangers close in, something shifts in us, and we tend to respond with anything but waiting.
Waiting is hard. We do not like being vulnerable and dependent on someone else to rescue us.
I think this is the simple faith we are called to have in God. Crying out to God and waiting is a child-like faith that God desires in us. Most people value heroism. We live in a world of self-made success stories. Trusting God starts with letting go of the things we feel we need to control and depending on God's ability to deliver us.
If you think about it, it is the ultimate declaration that God is real and God is God. We would be foolish to sit around and wait for help from a fictional or historical character. God is real and present. Today I want to challenge you to practice waiting on the Lord. There might be something running through your head right now. Simple pause, ask God to help you and wait.
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