Read
73You created me
and put me together.
Make me wise enough to learn
what you have commanded.
74Your worshipers will see me,
and they will be glad
that I trust your word.
75Your decisions are correct,
and you were right
to punish me.
76I serve you, Lord.
Comfort me with your love,
just as you have promised.
77I love to obey your Law!
Have mercy and let me live.
78Put down those proud people
who hurt me with their lies,
because I have chosen
to study your teachings.
79Let your worshipers come to me,
so they will learn
to obey your rules.
80Let me truly respect your laws,
so I won't be ashamed.
81I long for you to rescue me!
Your word is my only hope.
82I am worn out from waiting
for you to keep your word.
When will you have mercy?
83My life is wasting away
like a dried-up wineskin,
but I have not forgotten
your teachings.
84I am your servant!
How long must I suffer?
When will you punish
those troublemakers?
85Those proud people reject
your teachings,
and they dig pits
for me to fall in.
86Your laws can be trusted!
Protect me from cruel liars.
87They have almost killed me,
but I have been faithful
to your teachings.
88Show that you love me
and let me live,
so that I may obey
your commands.
Reflect
Relief in times of difficulty and strife do not often come to an end as quickly as we would like. The psalmist talks about this very thing in verse 82 as he describes his eyes failing while looking for God’s promises. He is straining his eyes to see deliverance come down the road.
One cannot live this life without the experience of finding oneself in our Father’s waiting room. So much of our experience as Christ followers seems to be lived there. We are waiting on him to answer all kinds of prayers. We have one answer when very shortly, another need arises, and we are right back in that waiting room.
The psalmist is no stranger to this experience. We can see this theme all through Psalm 119. He waits for God. Our Father is his deliverer and God’s promises are the means of that deliverance.
Human nature seems very quick to find solutions and want to solve problems our way in our time frame. There are always some things however that require sitting in this waiting room where God alone is our deliverer. We can as believers be confident that the one who calls us is indeed faithful to what he promises.
As sure as spring flowers bloom after a harsh winter, so our God is faithful to answer us when we call to him. Just as we wait for flowers to bloom or robins to return after winter, so we wait expectantly for God to answer us.
Respond
Heavenly Father, hear our cry from this waiting room we find ourselves in today. Would you deliver us and grant to us peace as we wait. Thank you for Jesus and his presence that never leaves or forsakes us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Donna Dyck
Donna and her husband Bill are parents of 4 adult children and have 9 grandchildren. They have been pastoring at Toronto Alliance church for 28 years. Donna has written 2 books, Confessions of a Not So Average Girl and Confessions of an Unlikely Pastors wife. She has spoken at many conferences, seminars, and events over the years. She and her husband have just written a Devotional called Hope for an Unwanted Journey which will be published soon and is for parents, especially those who are walking through the valley of addiction or mental illness with their loved ones.