Listen

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV)

Think

In this scripture, David, like many of us today, finds himself surrounded by fear. We may find ourselves feeling weakened and powerless in the face of crises and adversity, both on a global scale and in our own lives. Despite David’s growing anxiety, he confirms that God is the strength that we need to overcome our fears; we are closer to God when we wait and trust and hope in God’s divine timing.

Timing is a critical part of this – David has faith that he’ll experience God’s goodness in this lifetime – but there are no guarantees for the moment. He is committed to wait and allow God to reveal God’s plan in God’s own timing. “Wait for the Lord,” he proclaims. While we are waiting for God’s goodness to show up, the psalmist notes that God will give us the tools we need to ease our worries.

Waiting can be scary, and the longer we wait, the more our fears seem to grow. But God encourages us to stay confident, have courage, take heart, and wait for God’s goodness. When our hearts are centered in hope and committed to God, we can begin to live out God’s promised goodness and peace, even as we wait on the Lord.

Lindsey Delks

Question to Ponder:

What are some ways we can practice showing patience and courage while we wait for deeper understanding of God’s work?

Pray

God, thank you for your word that confirms you are in control.

I surrender my fears to you.

Grant me strength, a courageous heart, and confidence as I hope and wait for your goodness.

Amen.

Go

Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Pope Francis