Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

As we come to the end of our incredible playlist this week with the songs of Ascent, we end on a somber yet very hopeful note. The people of Israel, for most of their time of existence in the Old Testament, were in some sort of conflict or war, except for under one king, shoutout Solomon, he was a real one for that. But despite Solomon, there was always an enemy around the corner ready to invade Israel and Judah.

Sometimes in life, we feel the same way. It just feels like there is always another enemy or setback around the corner. The car that never seems to get fixed, the bills that never seem to stop, the bullies who never seem to give up, the sickness that never seems to heal, the addiction that never seems to go away, or whatever it may be in your life. If we truly sit down and start thinking about all the pains of this life, it can lead us down a pretty dark tunnel.

I can think of plenty of times in my life where it was always just one thing after another without an end in sight. One inconvenience and stress after another. The Israelites were there too; they had worries and concerns that troubled them at night. They were humans and would often become worried and anxious, but life on this earth. That is where the psalms would serve as reminders of God.

We live in a society that does not value patience, for we want solutions and answers now. I even find myself frustrated just ‘cause my phone is taking 15 minutes to update to the latest iOS instead of 5 minutes like Apple said it would. The point is, we tend to expect immediate results from God and even demand it sometimes. But that is not always best. God has answered prayers quickly when I pray, but there are many times when I find myself still waiting on the “not yet,” and I get “no” as an answer as well.

Like a child who always asks for things when they want them, as adults, we know that they do not need a Red Bull at 10:30 pm or that they are not ready to drive a car when they are only 12 years old. We have wisdom and insight to tell our children to wait. In the same way, we constantly ask God for things we want immediately, when God ultimately knows best. He is the Good Father who knows what we actually need and when we need it.

As we go through our day and seek prayer for areas of our lives, let us look to the psalms and be reminded that God is good. “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption” (v6-7).

With God, there is steadfast love, even in the pain, even in the hurt of life. God is good, He is in control, and one day, when this life is gone, and we enter into eternity, we can be with Him. God is working in our lives on this side of eternity, preparing and sanctifying us to be more and more like Him. Like the iOS update on my phone, God is working and renovating my soul, the areas of my life I have yet to submit to Him. Do not be afraid of the waiting; embrace it. Look around and see where God is working, and you might even realize the blessing that is this life you have around you.

We have the amazing opportunity on this earth to share what God is doing within us, within our church. Share the steadfast love and hope of the gospel with those around you. Let us be the ones who, when we enter those gates of heaven, we hear “well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:23)

What areas have you found yourself waiting on the Lord?

Do you find yourself waiting well?

What can you do in this waiting to glorify the Lord?

Challenge: Wait well; find ways you can serve God in the season of life you are in, whether good or bad.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.