Today we are reflecting on a section of Psalm 27. In the beginning of the Psalm, King David states his confidence in the Lord. Yet, around verse 9, we begin to see that although he is committed to God by faith, he is still human and is struggling with fear. David is pleading with God for His protection.
You and I need Jesus with every breath that we take. When life is moving along smoothly, and things seem just fine, in an instance, what seemed to be perfect can be turned upside down and become a complete disaster.
So, what do we do? Well, David tells us in verse 14 to “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” We see throughout the Old Testament, within Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Proverbs, Lamentations, and Isaiah where we are instructed to “wait” and to be “patient” for the Lord. Waiting for the Lord within the Old Testament isn’t just about waiting on the coming (birth or return) of Jesus the Messiah, it is also about waiting for God’s timing. God has and is being patient with us, remember, we had to choose our salvation in Christ, which took time. So, it is completely wrong for us to be impatient with God? Especially, when we consider that He is all knowing, that He knows what is best for us, that He loves us more than anyone could ever love us, and that His timing is always right and it is not our timing. Peter tells us, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8)
We may not have God’s individual plan for our lives “written out on paper”, but we do have the Holy Spirit, which is willing to guide our hearts along that plan that God has for us. We need to cry out to the Spirit and ask for the impartation of Jesus’s strength so that we can be brave and courageous during our times of waiting. We have to ask for Jesus’s peace so that we can be patient in our times of waiting. We need to ask for Jesus’s wisdom so that we can learn from His Word. We need to ask for guidance so that we can ensure that we are following God’s path and not a path laid out by anyone else.
Psalm 27:7-14 NLT
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your patience with me. Please forgive me for my impatience at times and for wanting to jump ahead or off of the plan that You have for me. Help me, Jesus, to trust in You and Your plan for my life. Cover and fill my soul with Your Holy Spirit so that I can understand that I am merely a part of Your vast plan. I am humbled to be included and thank You. Strengthen my faith, fill me with Your peace, and guide me with Your wisdom so that I can remain steadfast with You on this path. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.