In Psalm
40, David says, “I waited patiently for the Lord.” The original language here
suggests that David “waited and waited and waited” for God to answer his
prayer. Yet as he looks back at this time of delay, he praises God. As a
result, David says, God “put a new song . . . a hymn of praise” in his heart
(40:3 niv).
“What a
chapter can be written of God’s delays!” said F. B. Meyer. “It is the
mystery of educating human spirits to the finest temper of which they are
capable.” Through the discipline of waiting, we can develop the quieter
virtues—submission, humility, patience, joyful endurance, persistence in
well-doing—virtues that take the longest to learn.
What do
we do when God seems to withhold our heart’s desire? He is able to help us to
love and trust Him enough to accept the delay with joy and to see it as an
opportunity to develop these virtues—and to praise Him.
Waiting
for God is never a waste of time. (RBC)
