I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
There is so much evil in the world. So much sadness. It’s enough to make anybody depressed if you sit and think about it long enough. In fact, I would venture to say that the reason many people can’t overcome their sadness and despair in this life, is because they have forgotten (or simply don’t know) about the goodness of God.
These verses are not necessarily Thanksgiving verses, but today, on the day before Thanksgiving, I want to remind you that God is good. And I want us to look at these two verses as a reminder to keep his blessings ever before your eyes, and in your heart. Let’s break this down:
Psalms 27:13: “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
This verse is pretty self-explanatory. Unless you believe in the goodness of God, and unless you continually seek to identify his blessings here in this life, you will be weary and faint of heart with what this world has to offer. Crime, anger, perversion, you name it! This world is ugly. Without the goodness of God and his blessings towards his children, we would all faint/grow depressed. Things may even be bleak for a season in the Christian’s life. We are not immune to sickness, cancer, and hard times. But when we know God personally, and walk with Him, the Bible tells us he “daily loadeth us with blessings”! (Psalm 68:19) For that alone we have a great reason to thank Him!
Psalm 27:14: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
WAIT
The word “wait” in verse 14 means “to look for, hope, and expect while binding or collecting together”. WOW! So we are to look for, hope for, and expect the Lord, while we bind ourselves together. Waiting on His return, and waiting on His blessings is NOT a passive thing. We don’t simply get salvation (or our “ticket to heaven”) and then just bide our time here until he calls us home. We are to be busy. Keeping ourselves collected, our thoughts and actions together as they should be, and actively living like we expect his return at any moment. How do we prepare our physical home when we know company could stop by any moment? We scurry about, dusting, picking up, moving decorations so they look just right. Why should we be any less concerned about Jesus coming back to call us home to heaven? Make sure you have sought forgiveness for sins. Tell others he is coming. When we focus on these things, and living the way He has called us to live, we won’t have time or energy to focus on the drama and sadness around us. Even in the valley, God is good. Even in the valley there are things you can do to bless others, and receive a blessing yourself!
So don’t let yourself be weary when you look around at this world. Remember, God is in control. He wants to bless you. And there is work to be done. If you are actively waiting for his return, time will fly. His blessings will abound. And he will strengthen your heart.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9
2 Thessalonians 3:13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
