I sometimes wonder in our day of fast food and technology if we’ve lost the virtue of waiting. I see in myself how often I do not like to wait – whether for traffic, for my kids, for a line in the store. And if I’m not being impatient with the waiting, then I’m distracting myself with my cell phone.
But patience is a virtue, and is part of the valuable lessons of prayer. God will put us in difficult situations so that we pray; and then delay in His answer so that we wait. Both of these are good; both of these take time to learn.
Our friend in Psalm 119 shows us both of these in the last eight verses. His final message, as it were, to you and me is to learn to pray, and learn to wait.
The opening four verses are words of prayer. At first, we have words of prayer request, but then we have words of praise. All of these are prayers going from us to God.
Let my cry come before You, O Lord;
Let my supplication come before You;
Let my lips utter praise,
Let my tongue sing of Your word,
Psalm 119:169a, 170a, 171a, 172a
But then the final four verses are words of waiting, as God’s compassion and answers come down to us.
Let Your hand be ready to help me,
I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.
seek Your servant,
Psalm 119:173a, 174a, 175, 176b
Breathe in, breath out; pray and wait. It’s never about making things happen. It’s always about having a close relationship with your Lord. Make the most of your waiting!