So far in this series we’ve likened anger to a riptide that blindsides us and fear to quicksand that drops out from under our feet. Psalm 40 gives us our metaphor for waiting right up front. It’s like being in a pit. Trapped. Stuck in a place from which you cannot pull yourself out.

I waited patiently for the LORD;
          he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit… (vv. 1-2)

Are you waiting for something in life right now? Maybe it’s for a good gift worth desiring like marriage, children, steady employment, or a home. Maybe it’s for God to remove a painful “thorn” of one kind or another from which you are praying for relief. Maybe it’s for a loved one to trust Christ or for a wandering child to come home. Maybe it’s waiting for an apology from someone who has hurt you.

In light of our time in Psalm 73 last Sunday, maybe it’s the capital-G groaning of living in this fallen and broken world, waiting for the coming day when “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God… and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan[ing] inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:21–23).”

Psalm 40 is a song to sing in all our seasons of waiting. Randy Gruendyke will preach it for us this Sunday and Kenny Clark will lead us in our time of worship in Scripture and song. In preparation, spend some time in Psalm 40. And Psalm 27:19 is a great prompt for us to pray for one another. “Lord, help us to wait for You; strengthen us, and cause our hearts to take courage; help us to wait for You!”