I am the Psalmist.
I too have a history of crying out to God, reminding Him of all that I do for Him and asking Him the “whens” and the “whys”…
When Lord? When will you avenge?
Why Lord? Why have you allowed this?
And I too have a history of telling Him when He needs to act…
“It is time for you to act, O Lord…” ~ Psalm 119:126
Because of my limited sight and understanding, I struggle comprehending the ways of our Lord at times.
I don’t have His perspective.
I don’t have His knowledge.
I am not God.
And so I become the Psalmist and cry out to Him with questions that are beyond my understanding… and I realize I am just a child.
Age is funny, you know. The older I get the more I realize how much there is to learn in life, and how very patient God is with my growth.
God is good and patient (Psalm 136:1 & 2 Peter 3:9).
I like that God is good. But patient? That can be a little harder when I’m waiting on Jesus to act.
The Jews in Jesus’ day wanted a Savior who would concur and overthrow the Roman oppressors. They wanted action. They wanted revenge. They wanted all those who had hurt them to finally have their day.
And in many ways, I am no different. And neither is our buddy the Psalmist.
He has highs and lows as he pursues knowing God better and gaining greater wisdom… just like me.
I’m taking comfort that here is a man who is completely sold out to God – a man who treasures God’s Word more than gold or gems – and yet I see this man struggle with waiting on the Lord to move. I hear him remind God of the righteous life he has led, just in case God may have missed it. I see him plead with God as he continues to be oppressed.
And in a strange way, it encourages me. It strengthens me.
Maybe it’s the progression of moving from “baby food” to “solids” in terms of spiritual growth, but it comforts me to know that other people who are 100% sold out for God – those who desperately want to live their lives for Him – struggle in their understanding of why He chooses to act sometimes, and at other times remains patient and does not step in and fix the situation like we want Him to.
But I’m starting to notice that in the waiting…there is precious growth.
In the waiting there is purpose.
“Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statues.”
The Psalmist does cry out to the Lord, but he also accompanies it with a sincere desire to know God and learn His ways:
“… teach me your decrees.”~ Psalm 119:124
“… give me discernment that I may understand your statues.”~ Psalm 119:125
His heart is humble and teachable. He wants God’s ways over his own.
And maybe that’s the purpose of the waiting: the precious growth it produces.
“God’s delays are not God’s denials.”- Warren W. Wiersbe
So like the Psalmist, I cry out to God and say:
“It is time for you to act, O Lord; your law is being broken.” ~ Psalm 119:126
But in these days of waiting I’m learning to dig a little bit deeper into God’s Word, and pray a little more earnestly. And that’s always a good thing.
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done…” ~ Matthew 6:10
“The day will come when the truth will be revealed and sin will be judged; meanwhile, instead of complaining about what we have paid or lost, let us rejoice in the wealth that we have in God’s Word; wealth that can never be taken from us.”- Warren W. Wiersbe
Let’s Talk:
Don’t doubt for a second that God doesn’t see what’s going on in our world. But in the waiting, how can we be more proactive in growing in our faith and reaching out to a hurting world… being the hands and feet of Jesus?
Love God Greatly!
Week 6 Challenge:
This week, focus on taking one additional step in digging into God’s Word. Maybe it’s reading the verses in another translation. Maybe it’s listening to Scripture on the commute to work. Maybe it’s reading some commentary on this week’s assigned verses. However this looks for you, dig in a little deeper and ask God to give you greater understanding of His Word.
Week 6 Video:
(Click here if you can’t see the video)
Week 6 Memory Verse:
Week 6 Reading Plan:
I can so relate! Waiting for God is often hard for me, in fact my Word of the Year means quietly waiting. I am learning to let go of my control issues and not try to rush God (as if I could!) into acting. I’ve come to accept His timing is best and the rewards and joy that follow are so beyond my every imaginings.
Ann,
I agree waiting is hard, but you are so right the blessings that God gives are beyond our imagination. Every good and perfect gifts are from the father. I hope you have a blessed week! (Jennifer, LGG Encourager)
Ahhh learning that we are not the ones in control…..surrendering that desire to be in control is both freeing and hard to do at times! Learning that lesson right along with you, Ann!:) God’s timing is always perfect….and it’s in the waiting that we learn that truth!:) Thanks so much for joining us today!
Waiting on anthing is hard, waiting on God seems harder. God doesn’t answer me on my time but on His. I used to get tired of waiting and would try to fix whatever I was asking God for. Well, that never worked out to well, so although I am still a work in process (and will always be one) I am learning to wait and to dig into God’s word. Thank you for your words of encouragement and for this awesome study.
Oh Patty I can so relate. I used to try, and still try every once in a while, to help God out to fix it. As I grow I learn more from God’s Word and learn to trust Him more. We serve such an awesome God 🙂 I hope you have a blessed week! (Jennifer, LGG Encourager)
Jumping ahead of God hasn’t worked well in my life either, Patty!:) There is so much growth in our seasons of waiting….though I don’t always enjoy the season, I am thankful for the outcome. 🙂 God’s ways are always right!:)
Waiting is never easy. I was thinking of the part of the challenge of how do we reach out to others in the waiting. I think being real. The Lost world needs to see that Christians don’t have it all together, that we struggle too. It makes us seem more real and it breaks down the walls. I am a pediatric occupational therapist and I work with kids in their homes. I see it all! Sometimes families feel embarrassed if their house isn’t clean or they’re scrambling to finish getting ready as I am coming in the door. But if I am open that hey my house is t perfect either and I struggle to keep laundry done too or that I am always running behind too, you can see them relax. As I am real about my life, they’re more likely to open up about their life. I have had many opportunities to pray with families just from being real with them. I think too just offering to pray for someone struggling even if they don’t ask for it. I have never had anyone turn me down! Even if they don’t believe themselves most recognize that there is power in prayer. So my encouragement is this: God always has a purpose in the waiting. Most of the time you can look back and see what it was. Be real in your struggles. God can handle it! And the world needs to see we struggle too. Hold onto prayer and His promises. God is sovereign!
What a wonderful testimony Lauren of how you share from your heart with your patients! I couldn’t agree with you more – the more open and transparent we are with one another the more opportunities we have to impact one another’s journeys … And what a blessing that is! Praying for each other IS powerful, as is being honest and real with one another. When we come alongside of each other, there is no limit as to how God can use our walk and our words to build His Kingdom here on Earth. Thank you for sharing! Wishing you a very blessed day! (Jean, LGG Encourager)
Lauren, Thank you for this reminder as I’ve gotten stuck in the struggles at times and blurt out all that’s going wrong or I’m grat all is fine. It is time to seek Him and the balance in sharing to others.
Amen, Lauren! And when we aren’t “perfect” we give God opportunities to be seen through our life and our struggles. 🙂 LOVE how you pray for your families….loving them well right where they are! Thank YOU for that!
Thanks so much, Angela! God has surely used you today to encourage my heart about a long-time struggle. For so long I have sometimes cringed looking back in my prayer journals and seeing how much of an up & down ride life has been…crying out, rejoicing, crying out, praising, and so on. I’d keep struggling with the thoughts/idea that “I must not be a very good Christian to have all this up & down going on” or “when will I grow up and have it all together more than this?” Oh, but thanks to God and His Word that is becoming more and more precious to me…through this study of Psalms 119…I am seeing clearly now that even though I don’t always get to understand everything because His Ways & Thoughts are higher, growth in me IS happening through it all! I am the Psalmist too! May God richly bless you and the other LGG leaders for your willingness to share Him and His Great Love!
Oh Karen! Thank you for your honesty. I’m there with you. I usually end up throwing away my journals because I am ashamed that I seem to keep asking for the same thing and questioning. So glad that you stopped by.
Blessings, Amy A, LGG Encourager
Thank you so much for the tremendous insight you shared. It ministered to me on multiple levels and encouraged me as well.
God bless
Ahhh so glad it encouraged you, Lynn!!! 🙂