Thoughts for the Day

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.

Happy are those who make
the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
but you have given me an open ear...

I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

Do not, O Lord, withhold
your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness
keep me safe for ever.
For evils have encompassed me
without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Are you any good at waiting patiently? You know the kind of thing - waiting to hear if you got the job; waiting for the result of a hospital test; or waiting for a delayed train! Some of us are definitely better than others. Lying awake at night worrying is not a good idea, it only makes us tired, raises our blood pressure, and leaves us feeling irritable the next day.

Psalm 40 opens with the words "I waited patiently for the Lord". David is reviewing his recent experiences in the light of desperately needing some help from God. We don't know what the current trouble is, but it's very serious. He says, "evils have encompassed me without number". He remembers how he has put his trust in God in the past and how God has helped him, and he remembers that he told others that God had saved him and kept his promises to be faithful to him. Finally David asks God to save him once again.

After waiting for my bungalow to sell for twenty months and with two offers having fallen through, I have learnt a lot about patience, not least that there are reasons for waiting. St Francis de Sales once said "Have patience with all things, but first of all, with yourself." Being impatient can lead to high stress levels, and a possible stroke or heart attack. Reflecting on what God has already done for you and putting complete trust in Him is a far more satisfactory way to proceed. Oh yes, and constantly asking His help, to act when the time is right.

Lord Jesus,
when I am impatient,
help me to understand why I am waiting.
Help me to see the bigger picture,
and Your plans for my life.
May I look back over Your loving help
in the past and remind myself
why it was important to wait patiently.
Give me the strength to trust You now
and to simply wait patiently.
Amen.