May 12, 2021
And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. – Psalm 39:7
What are we waiting for? We are all waiting for something, and most of us can name it. This past year has named many items for which we have waited. We waited to see how bad things could get, and then if they would get better. We waited to see church reopen, we waited to see church moved indoors, we waited for a vaccine, we waited to feel safe, we waited, and waited, and waited. And some of us are still waiting.
When I reflect back, I can assuredly say I have always been waiting for something, even before COVID was a thing, we were, as a society waiting. Deep in our souls there is a waiting still, as there is always this underlying anticipation that something must be coming that is better than this current world.
This deep yearning, is very much a part of our Christian experience, and I would venture to say even those who haven’t become fully aware of Christ calling in their life, still feel this yearning from time to time. This yearning, anticipation, and the waiting is all part of our soul’s realizing the coming kingdom of God.
Psalm 39 is title a “prayer for wisdom and forgiveness.” Within the words of this prayer, the psalmists confesses to the attempt to guard the tongue, and keep peace, though it seems as though they were not successful in that attempt, and now need forgiveness. It seems, to me, very much our current human condition. We attempt to keep at peace, or keep our tongues in check, but then someone says something, or does something, and the tongue is off, like a dog off its leash chasing some creature up a tree. In those moments we forget our waiting, and take to present action, and afterwards, we probably find that we are in need of forgiveness, we spoke our mind, but at the same time did not elicit words or thoughts of the kingdom of heaven.
I know I’m guilt of such reckless speech, but when I come to my senses, I do sit and wait, and hope for the better days ahead. Patience in the waiting is the virtue we all must strive for, knowing that as we wait, we do have a hope the moves beyond this world. A hope that God is coming to us, that God is recreating us in his grace and in his image. May we wait with great hope that we would become more of a reflection of God’s love to others in our waiting.
Grace & Peace,
Sam