Want and Wait?

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame…

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
Remember not… my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,.. O Lord!

Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose…
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord…

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
    Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.” Psalm 25:1-2a,4-12,14-15,20-21

David lifts his soul to the Lord, his source, hope, and help. He wants for much and spells that out: no shame for his life, clarity on God’s path and way, His truth and teaching and guarding of soul and integrity. For all these he earnestly yearns, and is patient- for God’s answers he is content to wait. Waiting for answers, he has learned, is waiting on his Lord. The longer he waits, the more he meditates and communes, all to enriching a deeper trust relationship.

In the flesh, we are very good at wanting, but not so much with waiting. The Lord works in and through our longings and needs and asking to conform us to His image. He knows what He is doing, though we think we know better. According to us, our paths should be instantly clear and we should be able to work and do according to our timetable, no obstacles. According to Him, time elapsed between prayer and fulfillment works to convict of sin, humble us, teach us to fear Him and to deepen our friendship. We demand the immediate and temporal, He is interested in the lasting and eternal.

What is it that we want most? Are plans and accomplishments more important than to know Christ better? How much do we value purity, patience, the ability to hear His voice and sense His Spirit’s nudging? What kind of progress matters most? Reading through David’s psalm as a personal prayer helps us to lift our souls and sights to the One who hears, knows, and is always working to sanctify. We can trust His designs and timing.

“Before I move
Before I speak
Perfect wisdom I will seek
And I will wait
As long as it takes
I will wait on the Lord.” ~Twila Paris (1990)

Lord, help me love and keep Your word as I want and wait, and with lifted soul, lift You high. (Psalm 27:14)