Psalm 128-130

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning.” (Psalm 130:5–6, NKJV)

We are a culture that doesn’t like to wait. We have microwave ovens, fast food, drive-thru coffee, and overnight ordering, shipping and delivery. We scrutinize grocery store lines and profile checkers in hopes of the quickest check-out. We instantaneously download our music, movies and books. We have done away with writing letters sent through “snail mail” and resort to communication by texts or video chats.

We are also a culture that is extremely distracted. We spend our time on movies, TV series, sports, games, activities, and social media. Next time you go to a restaurant, look around and see how many people are on their phones rather than engaging in conversation.

So when it comes to communing and communicating with God, how do we do it? Waiting for anything is foreign to us—let alone waiting for Someone we cannot see. And yet it is impossible to know God without waiting for Him.

Waiting for God is the essence of faith. We believe that He exists and that He rewards those who wait for Him. The world tells us: “Just do it.” “Fake it until you make it.” “Work hard, dream big.” But the Bible tells us to wait upon the LORD.

The psalmist learned the art of waiting on God and putting his hope in His Word. To do that, one must resist the relentless distraction of the urgent. One must be prayerful rather than busy. One must watch with expectancy, believing that God will come, answer our prayers, and show us what to do.

How long has it been since you’ve truly waited in stillness before the LORD until He has spoken to your heart? How long has it been since you’ve meditated on the Word until it becomes living, active and powerful? Wait on the LORD, and He will renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31).