Monday, December 16, 2019

Waiting on the Lord

three jellyfish closeup photo





If we wait patiently for the Lord, He never fails to hear and answer our prayers. He lifts us out of the slimy pit of despair and the quick-sand of troubles and tribulation. He is our Rock and He always gives us a firm foundation on which to stand (Psalm 40:1-2).

When we are abused, abandoned or neglected by those we love, God never leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). His constant watch-care over us puts a new song of praise on our lips (Psalm 40:3). Our faith is recharged, renewed and restored as we patiently wait on His timing and plans for our life.

Our Father God uses our trials in life to bring blessings in us, for us, and through us to others who suffer in the same areas that we do. He levels out the steepest mountain climbs and deepest valleys of depression to make our way smoother (Proverbs 3:6; Isaiah 45:2-4).

When we use human resources to attempt to heal our heart or to help someone else, we often circumvent the efforts God wants to make on our behalf. That is why patiently waiting for His provision is preferable, even if it takes longer than we expect or would like to endure.

God began a good work in us through salvation, and will continue His plans for us until we see Him face-to-face (Philippians 1:6). As we wait on His provision, we guarantee that we will not miss His legacy as co-heirs with Jesus of God's Kingdom, now and throughout eternity.

Prayer:
Father God, remind us not to attempt to leap ahead of You or to drag behind You when we or a loved one meets the challenges of this life. Help us to wait on You, to watch for Your provision, to praise You for both the good times and the bad, and to stay out of Your way by not using self-effort in a feeble attempt to bring a change in our circumstances.

We will sing of Your love and righteous judgments, and walk blamelessly in Your sight, even if You take longer to provide our needs than we would like to endure (Psalm 101:1-2). In our weakest moments, help us to remember that You do hear our cries for help and listen to our prayers. Teach us to gain our encouragement from Your Word and from authentic Believers that You place in our life (Psalm 101:6).

Thought for the Day:
We can patiently and faithfully wait on God in our times of affliction, because He does not hide His face from us, or turn a deaf ear to our pleas in our times of distress; and, at times, He even answers us quickly rather than using our tribulation to allow patience to have her perfect work in us.
- Psalm 102:1-2; James 1:4-8