Wait on the Lord

There is a word that sounds like a foreign language to most people in our individualistic, driven, and focused society. Many people often scoff at this word and it seems as if they even detest it. The word I am referring to is "wait."

We live in the day and age of instant soup, fast food, and cell phones. People are not accustomed to waiting for anything. When we want something we want it now! When a decision needs to be made we value the one that can make the decision instantly. When a person is going through hard times we praise the person that can solve the problem quickly. Often there is something missing though.  That missing piece is learning the art of waiting. More specifically as we read in the Psalms to "Wait on the Lord" (Ps. 27:14).

In Psalm 27, we read David's reflections about some unwanted and really unwarranted afflictions that have enter into his life. His enemy, Saul, who was jealous of David, was pursuing him in order to kill him. David had learned to live his life on the go as a pilgrim. His heart was heavy; because of these events he had not been able to be in the Lord's house for an extended period of time (Ps. 27:4). Oh how he longed to know those days of worship in the tabernacle of the Lord. He finds himself living with an enormous amount of anxiety, as everyday of his life is lived in fear of being delivered into the hand of his enemy (Ps. 27:12). As David was looking and longing for better days he penned these inspired words, "Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord" (Ps. 27:14).

There is great application that we can take from this verse. Perhaps you find yourself in the furnace of affliction like David was in? Or maybe there is some big decision you are facing and choices that need to be made? Well, we should heed the exhortation of this Psalm and "Wait on the Lord." Here is what the great, Baptist theologian John Gill had to say upon dwelling upon this subject:

“It becomes believers to wait on the Lord for the common blessings of life, for even the eyes of all wait upon him for their daily food; and for the light of his countenance, when it is withdrawn from them, he will return again at the set time; and for answers of prayer which will be given sooner or later; and for the performance of his promises, which are yea and amen in Christ. The Lord will bring those blessings to pass so it is incumbent upon us to wait on the Lord!”


Contributor / Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart is the Lead Pastor of ONElife Church in Flint, MI.​