Focus

Are you tired? Take this time to rest. Relax every part of yourself. Breathe slower. Be ready for what God has before you today.

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Read

Psalm 130 (NRSV)

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

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Reflect

“Please, wait.” I work with young children and find myself repeating those words a hundred times on a daily basis. Nobody enjoys waiting, yet waiting is simply part of life. We wait in line, we wait for the cookies to finish baking, we wait for a special visit from someone, we wait at appointments, and so forth. In life, we can drift easily into the habit of always waiting for the next thing: waiting for a spouse, waiting for children, waiting to purchase a house, waiting for retirement.

This psalm causes me to pause and consider what is happening when we experience seasons of waiting. Are we simply sitting back, passively waiting for something to come or change? If so, we must proceed with caution. If we get caught in the waiting trap, we may miss out on the things happening right before our very eyes. If we are too focused on our wait, we might not see opportunities God gives us to experience love and provision in new and exciting ways. Let us strive to be present where God has placed us, even in a season of waiting. There is hope in God’s word.

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Pray

God of hope, we praise you for your presence in seasons of waiting. Help us to remember that you are always near with steadfast love. Amen.

Go with God.