Tag: waiting for God

Turning Sadness to Praise – Psalm 13

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?”  (Psalm 13:1-2 ESV).

Notice the “how long” question is never answered. I think that’s because what he really wants to know is the trouble will end and he’ll find joy again.

I also love it that the psalmist writes from his darkest times and turns his sorrow to trust by the time he arrives at the last verse. It’s like he’s saying “things are terrible, but I’ll keep waiting for God. He’s in control and I will praise him and sing now, for though I can’t see it, I’m convinced he’s making it all good.”

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my God. Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me” (verses 4-5).

I have trusted, and I will sing.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis

He Hears – Psalm 5

I always want something. I hope for what I don’t have. I hunger for a need to be met. I long for resolution of something that concerns me. Have you noticed this – your eyes wandering, searching for something more? It’s like my soul is never completely satisfied.

That’s when I quiet my mind so I can focus on what it is I’m truly longing for, and that is I want to know God hears me.

“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalms 5:1-3 NIV).

I want to know he hears me, that he’s close to me and listening. I love that the psalmist asks the Lord, his King and his God to whom he prays, to not only hear his words but his sighs and his cries for help as well. God hears even when there may be no words.

He is with me and he hears me, so there is nothing to fear. I will wait patiently for him.

by Kathy Sheldon Davis