Waiting can be difficult. We may identify with the individual who was praying and exclaimed, “God I need patience and I need it right now!”  We live in an instant society and waiting can be burdensome. Perhaps you’ve been at a store and you’re waiting in line. You count the people in each line, then you estimate the number of items they have, and then you evaluate the efficiency of the cashier. You do all of these calculations so you can move to the fastest line because you don’t want to wait. Just as you make your strategic move the customer in front of you needs a price check and you discover that your original line was faster.

We may become impatient in heavy traffic. You see a backup on the interstate so you calculate alternate routes noting the number of traffic lights and the approximate time saved. We drive several extra miles so we don’t wait in traffic. King David was facing a time of waiting in his life, not from traffic, but he was waiting for God’s deliverance as his enemies were seeking to kill him. He gives us wise counsel in Psalm 27 to help us when we are waiting.

David had a number of challenging times in his life. He teaches us that you can have confidence in difficult situations. How is this possible? You can have confidence in difficult situations by learning to wait upon God.

David commences this Psalm with confidence in God’s promises. William Secker reminds us, “Where there is no confidence in God, there will be no continuance with God.”  What gives us confidence in God? As David wrote this Psalm, he recalled God’s protection and presence in his life. Although he could look back and see God’s faithfulness in the past, he was still waiting on God’s deliverance in his present struggle.

Are you in a season of waiting? You’re probably not waiting for God to save you from a life or death situation, but it’s a dilemma that may be causing fear or uncertainty. David concludes this Psalm with a verse of encouragement to himself and to us,

Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)

Waiting can be difficult, but if you wait, God will work. David encourages us to be strong and take courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it’s the ability trust God even when the outcome is not clear. God does some of His greatest work during our most difficult times. Only those who have the patience to wait through the difficult times will see God work in ways that they could not imagine. May we learn the discipline of waiting. Adel Bestavros teaches us,

Patience with others is love.
Patience with self is hope.
Patience with God is faith.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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