Waiting on the Lord

The past week has been one full of much stress, anxiety and anticipation. As Christmas, the end of school, my birthday, and other exciting things roll around it is easy to get overwhelmed and to become anxious. Meditating on Philippians 4:6-7 brought me a sense of peace and joy yet the pressure didn't seem to fade. Added to everything was an onset of emotions and confusion that brought even more chaos to my busy week. Because of all of this going on in daily life and swarming in my own head I have failed to stay faithful to trusting in the Lord and spending adequate time with Him. My desire and passion for Him began to slowly slip into the background as other things came to the forefront of my mind. All that said, as I sat in my room one night this week preaching to myself and seeking the Lord for clarity, wisdom, and discernment I turned to Psalms where I was sure I would find encouragement from the Psalmists who often too cried out to the Lord.
" 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.

2 Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.

3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;
with you the wicked cannot dwell.

5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong.

6 You destroy those who tell lies;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
the LORD abhors.

7 But I, by your great mercy,
will come into your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make straight your way before me.

9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.

10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

My heart began to cry out to the Lord as the Psalmist did here asking for the Lord to listen to my plea, my petition my prayer (as commanded in Philippians 4:6-7). Verse 3 brought so much comfort to my heart as I read the truth of God's Word in being reminded that as I lay my requests before the Lord I can be confident that HE will bring about good from it all and bring glory to Himself (Romans 8:28). Verse 11 reminds us to take refuge in the Lord...He is our shield! And then it hit me, how often I have to be reminded of this, but how awesome to know the TRUTH that the Creator of the Universe desires to have a relationship with me and to use me for His kingdom and glory...that baffles my mind.

I began to wonder why I was fretting, why I was so anxious, why I was so confused. The God of the Universe is holding me in the palm of His hands and He is sovereign over all and has it all under control despite the fact that I feel like it is chaos. It was a great reminder in waiting on the Lord. Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him". Living in a society that is self centered and instant it is easy to loose heart and to fall prey into not trusting the Lord and His timing. However we must remember God's ways are not our ways and His timing is not our timing. Waiting on Him, no matter how hard it is (and He gives us the strength through His Word and Spirit and prayer etc.), will in the end bring much fruit in our lives and glory to our King...so don't loose heart, just wait!