Slow down and wait

When reading the Bible verses that tell me to wait on the Lord, I tend to think that I’ve a need and am waiting for the answer to a prayer request, or that I want something to happen and am waiting on God for it. Those thoughts are much like standing in line waiting to get to the object of the lineup, or even like the child on a journey that is saying, “Are we there yet?”

Today’s thoughts are prompted by one verse that says, “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6) My first thought was like a child waiting for supper to be ready or a shopper waiting for the store to open, that kind of waiting. However, God reminds me to look at the context. The psalmist has a specific in mind that I was not considering…

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalm 130:1–8)

If read as an entire prayer, this Bible writer is asking for mercy. He remembers that no one could stand before God without His forgiveness and seems to be asking for that. He desires it so he will be done with his own sinful ways, just like a watchman waits for his night shift to be over so he can return home. He knows that forgiveness comes, just as a watchman knows that morning is not far away and the darkness of night will not last forever. He encourages readers to hope in the Lord because He loves them and because with Him there is an abundance of redemption, enough for all the sin of all the people.

In other words, this writer is telling me that when I confess my sin, wait on the Lord for the forgiveness and cleansing He will give:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Don’t take sin, even the confession of sin, lightly. Wait until He does as He promises and I have that awareness of forgiveness and know that the sin I confessed is wiped from my record. Don’t quickly or lightly say the words then jump back into ‘life as usual’ but give thought about the wonder of this gospel, the wonder of a merciful and forgiving God for those who trust Him. Live out the gospel rather than rush back to ‘normal.’

PRAY: Jesus, far too often life in the fast lane. How many times have I said “oops” to You and then too quickly gone back into that lane without thinking about Your love and the size of Your heart, about the redemption made possible at the cross. That in itself seems sinful as well. May I never take for granted that without You I would only be a watchman waiting in the dark with no hope for the light of walking with You or being filled with the truth of Your love and mercy.