Waiting Quietly

Waiting Quietly

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Psalm 62:5-7

Waiting seems to be a lost art today. Most of us don’t want to wait for anything. We want fast food, short lines at the grocery store, and instant answers to prayer. Most of all, we don’t want to wait for help if we are in the midst of trouble or pain.

In Psalm 62, David poured out his heart to God, describing his difficulties, the enemies who were trying to kill him, and the lies and curses spoken against him. But on the battlefield of life, in the midst of every trouble, David looked up and waited quietly before God. That was one of the distinctives of David’s life: He valued listening to God and waiting on him. David was honest about his complaints and problems, but he purposed to direct his gaze to the God of all faithfulness, putting his trust in the One who alone was his rock, his salvation, his fortress, and his refuge. He then could wait quietly before God and receive his guidance because he had put his hope and his very life in the Lord’s hands.

David didn’t trust in human nature, because it was no more secure than a breath. He didn’t put his hope in riches because he knew that wealth wouldn’t save him. His hope, confidence, and trust were in the Lord Almighty.

If, like David, we are looking for God to act while we’re in the midst of trouble, we need to take time to wait. Finding a quiet place helps. Writing down the thoughts and verses that the Spirit brings to mind can provide guidance. Checking what we hear with godly counsel can help us to gain clarity. But waiting quietly in hope takes a deep confidence in the One before whom we are waiting. And God will never disappoint us. —CHERI

Lord, I lift my eyes up to you, my rock, my salvation, my fortress, and my refuge. Help me to wait for you in the storms, in the light, and in the dark. Let my confidence not be shaken by what my heart may feel, my circumstances may say, or my mind may think. I thank you that my confidence rests on the One who is my rock and that you will never be shaken.

We must wait for God, long, meekly, in the wind and wet, in the thunder and lightning, in the cold and the dark. Wait, and he will come.

—FREDERICK WILLIAM FABER (1814–1863), BRITISH HYMN WRITER AND THEOLOGIAN