Wait for the Lord: Finding Strength and Courage When God’s Timing Feels Delayed

The author of this Hebrew poem expresses his trust in the Lord. Line by line, he describes how he will overcome every adversity that arises against him by the power of God. He narrates his story so that every believer, then and now, may have confidence in the Lord.

His confidence stems from the fact that the Lord is good and always favours those who seek his help. He is confident that his prayers will be answered in his lifetime. (“The land of the living” denotes a person's lifetime).

The Lord may not act according to our timetable, but he acts according to his will in his own time. This requires patience. Exhorting worshippers to “wait for the Lord,” the psalmist encourages them not to give up but to hold on until the Lord’s time.

Waiting can be long and tiring. People waiting for the Lord to act should be prepared to remain strong and courageous, never giving up.

While growing impatient and at the point of giving up hope, I have always been motivated by the stories of godly people, ancient and modern, to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord. Wait, do not wilt—that is the punchline of the last line, which opens and closes with the phrase, “wait for the Lord.”