Up & Outናሙና

WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD! - Devotion with Ps Graeme and Mel Politanski

Following Jesus is a wonderful journey, it has seasons of growth and tension, but however, filled with belonging and hope!

This Psalm of David examples the life of a Christian who has matured in their faith, no longer looking at life as a fight trying to keep head above water, but rather understanding that with the Lord, life has a purpose greater than our challenges. At this point in life for David, pain, suffering, and loneliness lead to growing inner strength and dependency on the Lord, which is more valuable to David than the situation itself.

No one wants the challenges, but challenges and pressures seem to keep coming. In Psalm 27, David teaches us how to grow and mature in our faith and journey with Jesus. In verse one, before acknowledging the situation, David first lifts his eyes and attention to focus on Jesus as he says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Though the reality of his troubles continues to pop up throughout the Psalm, David continually focuses on how he will partner with God by going to the temple, then reminding himself of other times when God has helped him.

Waiting on God isn’t a moment of waiting for God to fix everything; rather, David shows us that we wait on God to renew our strength, to refocus on the purpose and not the problem. In this time of waiting, we find ourselves renewed, revitalised, and filled with the purpose we need for living above and not beneath life's challenges.

David’s number one concern was that of other people. In verse 13, David says, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” To see God’s goodness in the lives of others is the purpose that God places in all our lives. David had the purpose of seeing the goodness of God in the lives of other people, we also have this purpose, and like David, we are to wait on the Lord in all seasons, looking up first and looking out to see others.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for being with us in all seasons. You strengthen us, refocus us, and fill our souls with peace. Lord, as we wait on You, we find our strength and direction, our purpose is renewed, and our focus is refined. We give You this season of life we are in, partnering with You to see the goodness of God poured out into the lives of others in our world.

Amen!