Grace Notes – Waiting with Grace
“Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14 AMP
“It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we
are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not
They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your
stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share,
says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him
and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who
wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him
[inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and
on the authority of God’s word]. It is good that one should hope
in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the
Lord.”
Lamentations 3:22-26 AMPC
Grace Perspective:
In this passage from Psalms, King David reminds himself to wait for God with strong confidence. He tells his heart to have courage while waiting on the LORD, even when fearful. At the beginning of the passage, David tells us that even though enemies surround him, he will not fear because the king is confident that the LORD hears his prayers. David is willing to wait for the LORD to act, trusting that God’s timing is perfect.
Jeremiah wrote the words in Lamentations after waiting years for the Lord to work out His salvation for the people Jeremiah loved. Jeremiah was a prophet to the people of Judah, who had forsaken God and started hiding idols in His temple. Jeremiah lived in a time filled with war, pestilence, and famine. He suffered unjust imprisonment, distress, despair, and fear.
At one point, Jeremiah found himself thrown into a muddy pit because he warned the people of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. (See Jeremiah 38) Lamentations 3 reveals what the prophet felt while waiting for God to deliver him out of the pit. At the beginning of this chapter, Jeremiah felt the sting of doubt and disbelief as he tried desperately to hang onto the truth that God had not abandoned him. Jeremiah cried out for God to answer him, yet felt God had turned a deaf ear to his prayers. Jeremiah continued to pour out his grief, doubt, and fears to the Lord while he endured the dark pit. He confessed his sin as he laid his heart completely bare before God. And the Lord heard.
In verse 22, there is a change in Jeremiah’s thoughts. The prophet turns his thoughts to what he knows to be true, “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed….” Jeremiah turned his heart in hope towards the Lord, seeking the comfort of mercy and grace. The prophet found peace, knowing God heard his prayer and would eventually provide a way out of the pit. Jeremiah chose to trust the Lord as he waited hopefully, expectantly, and quietly for the Lord’s timing. (Read all of Jeremiah 38 to see how the story ends)
Enemies surrounded both David and Jeremiah—people who wanted to hurt them, kill them. Both men had thoughts that made them doubt God’s love. They were honest about what was going through their minds and counseled their hearts to trust the LORD. They show us how to graciously wait for God with confidence, courage, and hope.
A Touch of Grace:
What doubts, fears, and anxieties are surrounding you?
What is the hardest part of waiting for you?
Where do you turn for comfort as you wait?
Grace Application:
God was with David when enemies surrounded him and Jeremiah in the dark, muddy pit. David and Jeremiah found comfort as they remembered that God was with them in the dark moments. David spoke truth to his heart, confidently expecting God to give him strength. Though Jeremiah “felt” abandoned by God, after pouring out his grief, doubt, and fears, he turned his heart to what he knew to be the truth. God never abandons His children.
But waiting is hard, especially when we are suffering. Like David and Jeremiah, we are wise to look inward at our hearts to see who we trust as we wait. Although it may be true that others’ choices may cause our suffering, our response to the affliction is telling. Our reaction to being surrounded by enemies or pushed into a pit reveals what we believe about God. Thankfully, the Lord is patient and will wait with us as we sift through the chaos of our thoughts and cry out to Him in prayer. Not neat, tidy prayers but heart-rending prayers that reveal the depth of pain and anguish we are experiencing. God understands all those feelings, and His understanding brings us comfort and a sense of being truly heard.
Remember the Garden of Gethsemane? The Lord knows from personal experience what we feel. He endured the cross because He knew it was the only way to redeem us. He trusted the Father’s plan even when it caused pain. Jesus was patient as He endured the punishment for our sins. He waited expectantly and hopefully, knowing the Father’s plan would bring salvation to all who trust Him. That’s why we have hope.
Beautiful friend, I don’t know where you are today. You may be like David, surrounded by enemies like doubt, fear, or unbelief. Or, like Jeremiah, you may have been thrust into a pit by others or through unforeseen trials. But, no matter where you are, you are not alone if you are in Christ. God is at work through the circumstances. You can trust Him as you wait because He is merciful, gracious, and faithful to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him. So, like David, encourage your heart to be strong and know that the LORD will be with you in the gracious waiting.
In His Grace,
Dawn
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ, thankful that You are with me as I wait. My heart is encouraged when I remember that Your mercies are new every morning, and Your compassion never fails. Forgive me when I allow the enemies of doubt, fear, and unbelief to rule my mind. Help me wait with confident expectation, knowing that You will give me strength to wait patiently as You work in me and through me for Your purposes and Your glory. Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray that you will surely know you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubts can be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of Salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**