January 31

Written by Bill Grandi on January 31st, 2019

Psalm 52:9b says, “I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”

Waiting has never been a strong suit of mine. But here the psalmist says he will wait for the name of the Lord. I’m not sure what that means; I’ll have to look it up and study it further. Psalm 27:14 says (twice), “What for the Lord.”  What does that mean? Why? In his book a shelter in the time of storm Paul David Tripp writes about that. He says:

When your hope is in the Lord, when you are getting your inner sense of well-being and security from him, when he is the reason you continue even when things are hard, then you are building your life on something reliable and sure. (p.118)

He then further delineates what it means to wait (and I’m going to make this personal):

  • I have placed my hope in the ultimate source of everything that’s wise, good, and true.
  • I have placed my safety in the hands of the One whose power is immeasurable.
  • I am getting comfort from One whose love is boundless.
  • I can be secure in the reality that he rules over all things.
  • I can live with confidence because I know that every one of his promises is true.
  • I can be hopeful even in weakness because I know His grace is sufficient.

 

No wonder waiting is such a good thing. A suggested thing. A recommended thing. The benefits of waiting far outweigh the disadvantages and inconvenience of waiting.

“Father, teach me to wait. Not just say it. Live it. I know that opens a whole can of worms, but if it takes waiting to satisfy my hunger and thirst for you, so be it. Wait with me.”

 

10 Comments so far ↓

  1. Pam says:

    I am usually quite patient, but sometimes I feel like David when he repeatedly asks in Psalm 13, “How long, Lord?”
    Thank you for pointing out that waiting has a good purpose.

  2. Ryan S. says:

    In a society of “I want it and I want it now” mentality… waiting is difficult. Waiting for a purchase until I have funds in the bank… Hard but worth it. Waiting until marriage to enjoy the joys that come with marriage… Why wait when I can have it now? We are constantly being bombarded with the idea that you shouldn’t have to wait. God counters that for sure. Sure God will still love me, sure he still accepts me sinner and all… but when I choose to wait for the promises of God, I am ultimately choosing to live a fuller, richer, stronger life than when I choose to try to move ahead of God.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      You put waiting into a good perspective Ryan by looking at the benefits. Thanks for the different “look.”

  3. You’ve described so beautifully here, Bill, what it means to wait in the truest sense of the word. Yes, may we all wait patiently upon the Lord, knowing He will answer.
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      i wish I could take credit for the wise thoughts Martha. 🙂 But I can’t. But yes, may we all wait patiently.

  4. Debbie says:

    Thank you so much. Something about this and your prayer really touched me, brought tears. That always means He is working and that is always a good thing! Blessings as we wait!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Thanks for your kind words Debbie. I am constantly amazed at what God brings about when I or anyone writes from the heart.

  5. floyd samons says:

    You’re not alone in the impatience department, Bill.

    The time in our valleys have a profound impact on the amount of wisdom God gives us. We might as well try to bask in it, ’cause it’s not changing until He’s ready for it to!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I agree Floyd. Time spent in the valley is wasteful if we are not listening to the Father.