“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” (Psalm 130:5-6 NIV)
This verse challenges me. Often I am waiting for the Lord. Too often I am waiting for him to do what I want! The days and years stretch on and many of my “wants” remain. How can I gain insight from this verse?
I am to wait “more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Watchmen guarded ancient cities from atop fortress walls, alert to any potential havoc from invaders. Other watchmen inside the walls worked to keep the city safe. Morning’s light bathed areas of darkness, seeming to lessen some dangers.
My waiting times can seem as darkness with no certainty shed on a way to go. So I wait. I remain stationary. Waiting involves some kind of expectation. It is the unknowns that also wait in the dark. They can whisper discouragement or hopelessness.
But my hope is in God’s word – in both his directives in Scripture and his Word, Jesus. In him there is no darkness or discouragement. My hope is in him, not in my “wants.” Perhaps he is waiting on me to “get this” so that my “wants” are surrendered and he can move me on with his desires for me intact. Lord, help me pull my expectations out of the dark and into your light. Transform me to accept your will for me.
As I look upon waiting times in my past, I can recall God’s answers eventually unfolding, some to my liking and others not. Yet he has never failed me. I can choose to know and trust the One who brings me each new day. With him I can live in the “now” and not be concerned about times of waiting. They are safe with him.
Prayer: Lord, the journey is “now.” The dawn of tomorrow will come soon enough. I choose to rest with you in the light of today. Help me to remember that all my days are in your caring hands. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington. She writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 26 years of living with daily physical challenges.
Lynn,
As always, your words minister to me. I read this post earlier this morning, but as I now run into Psalm 130:5,6 again in my own readings this afternoon, I return here to re-read your words.
I am waiting to hear about a decision that was supposed to be made yesterday. No word yet. I am frustrated in the waiting, but I need to let go of my frustration, and know that the Lord is the answer. He is enough. Whether the decision made is yes or no about my question, my hope is in the Lord and his provision, all in his timing. He knows it is more important to refine my character than to answer all my questions.
May we wait with the expectation of being shown all we need to see when the time is right. Thanks for your wisdom!
Love,
Lisa
By: Lisa notes... on November 10, 2009
at 1:06 am
LYNN;VERY WELL DONE MY GREAT FRIEND!VERY ENCOURAGING ALSO AS WE SPEND SEEMINGLY SO MUCH OF OUR TIME WAITNG ON THE LORD FOR AN ANSWER OR GUIDANCE OR WHATEVER IT IS WE WAIT UPON.BUT I LOOK AT ALL THE TIME THE LORD WAITED UPON ME TOO GRACE THRU AND ACCEPT HIS GIFT OF SALVATION .HOW MANY YEARS I WASTED .HOW MANY I COULD BE USED BY HIM GROWING IN HIM.INSTEAD I WAS DOING MY OWN THING.I BELEIVE YOU TOUCHED ON ALL THE POSSIBILTIES OF WAITING.THAT MAKES THIS PIECE THOUGHT PROVOKING AMONGST OTHERS.WAITING IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE HAVE TOO DO AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.ITS EITHER YES,NO OR WAIT.IVE BEEN WAITING ON SOMETHING FOR MANY YEARS.BUT AS I WAIT I GROW AND LEARN AND ALMOST NO LONGER CARE ABOUT THE WAITING ANYMORE.IT TOOK WAITNG TOO SEE THAT AND EVERYTHING.IT TOOK WAITING IN THE LORD FOR ME TOO COME TOO PEACEFUL TERMS WITH JOY IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.WITHOUT WAITNG THESE THINGS WOULD HAVE NO LASTING VALUE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR LATEST WRITNGS. THEY ARE HITTING HOME LYNN.GOD BLESS MY SWEET FRIEND,THOMAS
By: THOMAS KANE on November 10, 2009
at 3:36 am
Thank you, Lisa – prayers for your acceptance of the outcome of your decision.
Thank you, Thomas – I appreciate your insight about how long God waits on us not only before we are saved but afterwards, as well.
I want to get to a point where I can “see life” in the waiting times – where I know deeply that God is working “behind the scenes” that I see and readying me for what is next on His agenda.
Sweet encouragement from you both – as always.
Bless you!
Love,
Lynn
By: Lynn Severance on November 10, 2009
at 8:51 am
Waiting is not easy in world whose values are are centred on a cost/benefit paradigm.
Perhaps we who are disabled and must so often practise patience have a positive calling to educate others to an alternative reality.
Nothing is wasted in the creation of the Almighty
By: Mike Watson on November 10, 2009
at 2:20 pm
Lynn:
As Thomas expressed, I, too, find this piece stimulates my thinking about the subject of waiting for the Lord to speak or act in my life.
I praise Him for giving me many experiences that have required patience because He has stretched my faith. One that has been repeated several times is anticipating a doctor’s call or visit that could have turned my world upside down.
The most serious one was a relatively short period when I was told that I’d had a stroke. That was nine years ago and, as it has actually changed my life for the better!
I don’t always do this, but when I live in the now it makes such a difference. I want to say thanks to you, dear friend, for sharing and challenging me today.
Big hug,
Beth
By: Beth on November 11, 2009
at 1:37 am
Lynn,
Your devotional certainly touched home for me as well. Oh how much time we spend waiting, for many different reasons. But God’s timing, we always find out, is the best for us. But I do have to take a look at how I am waiting. Thank you for writing this Lynn. It really is something that is helping me to stop and take a look at this area of my life.
Thank you, and God Bless!!
Margie
By: Margie Scott on November 11, 2009
at 5:09 am
Thank you Lynn for your inspired words of wisdom. Oh yes the waiting time is most difficult…….in the night we wait for the pain to subside so we can sleep. We wait for the diagnosis from doctors. We wait for the wind to stop and the storm to subside so we can be “busy” doing all the things that we feel are so important. Chronic illnesses definitely force us into the reality of waiting. Your devotional helped me today to remember God is in control……not me.
Thanks and blessings
Rachel
By: Rachel on November 11, 2009
at 6:01 am
Ah – this page is growing longer!
Mike, Beth, Margie, and Rachel, thank you for your kind remarks.
There is no way I could have written these words without God right by my side flowing through my fingertips teaching me as I wrote. I do believe I will always be in His school room in regards to these “waiting” lessons.
We are as one in our struggles in this area but it is good to be honest and acknowledge that as hard as it is – we know and trust He is working all things out for His will and our good.
Hugs and appreciation!
Lynn
By: Lynn Severance on November 11, 2009
at 12:09 pm