By Tiffany Williams
Psalm 40:1-3 (NASB)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.
David starts out by saying “I waited patiently for the Lord.” I’m already convicted. Who else has a hard time waiting patiently? The capability to be still without annoyance and anxiousness can be an overwhelming concept. Wait, it gets better. Another word used for patiently is intently. Waiting intently for the Lord means your attention is eager and sincere. Is anyone else seeing the awesome trust David had in the Lord? He knew that the Lord would help him out of this difficult time in his life. He faced his suffering head on with an eagerness to see how God would move without being annoyed, critical, or uneasy.
As verse one finishes, it says, “He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Wow! The Lord bent His head toward David. He heard David. The Lord’s attentive ear was leaned in David’s direction. You, my friend, can experience the same posture. What hardship are you facing? Where is your eager attention? Have you ever considered that God is so attentive? With whom and in what are you placing your trust?
You see David’s family was working through a few rough years. I am thinking David and his family are not the only ones who know what it is like to be facing a trying and dark time in life. You see, the Lord brought David out of that pit of destruction. The miry clay is where he was living. His feet were stuck in the thick and immovable mud. You may have been there too, like me, where any decision you make feels like you are sinking farther and farther into the mess. Where a clear and secure way out seems impossible. However, God brought David out and set his feet on the rock. God provided David a way out and firm footing to stand on in his escape. Now, he has a new song of praise in his mouth.
When we are in the thick of a troublesome time, when our feet are stuck in the mess, when our hearts are heavy and our mind is foggy, our prayers are more like desperate cries for help and understanding. When our head hits the pillow at night and sleep becomes the dream instead of the reality, we must cry out to Jesus. When He becomes the center focus the anxiety fades and worries cease. He hears. He acts on our behalf. Did you notice all the actions the Lord did after David seriously and expectantly waited on Him? The Lord turned toward David. He heard David. He picked David up. He placed David on a firm foundation. He put a song of praise on the lips of David. He will do the same for you, my friend. When the Lord does it in your life, many will see and will trust in Him.
Prayer: Father, even when I come to You with my heart heavy, I know that it says that when I wait patiently for You, You hear the cries of my heart. Right now, even when my cries may feel louder than Your voice, steady my feet and fix my gaze upon Your truths. I will continue to praise You in the midst of this process. Thank You for continuing to make me more like You. Amen