January 7: In The Waiting

Scripture
“Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
-Psalm 27:12-14

Psalm 27 opens with confidence, but it does not ignore reality. David is facing real danger, real accusations, and real threats. His enemies are not imaginary, and the pressure he feels is intense. Yet even in the middle of that struggle, David turns his attention toward the Lord. He prays honestly, asking God to protect him and not allow him to fall into their hands. His faith does not deny the battle, it brings the battle into God’s presence.

What stands out is David’s conviction that the Lord wants to hear him. He believes God is attentive, involved, and working on his behalf. David does not see prayer as a last resort, but as an expression of trust. He anchors himself in the belief that God is good and that God’s goodness will be made visible, even in the midst of suffering. “I am confident,” he says, “I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.”

At the same time, David is honest about the waiting. Deliverance does not always come immediately or in the way we expect. That tension is real. Faith does not always remove the struggle, but it sustains us through it. That is why David speaks to his own soul, urging himself to wait patiently, to be brave, and to remain courageous. Waiting is not passive resignation, it is active trust. As Henri Nouwen writes, “Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about Him for whom we are waiting.”¹

This is where courage is forged. Not in the absence of fear, but in the decision to trust God while standing in the battle. David’s confidence is not rooted in himself or his strength, but in the faithfulness of the Lord. When we know God’s character and His love for us, we can stand firm even when answers feel delayed. So we wait, not with despair, but with hope. We remain courageous, trusting that God is at work, reminding ourselves that deliverance, in His time and His way, is coming.

Reflection
1. What battle or season of waiting are you currently facing that requires courage and trust in the Lord?

2. How does David’s confidence in God’s goodness challenge the way you view your present circumstances?

3. What might it look like for you to actively wait on the Lord rather than simply endure the delay?

Prayer
Ask the Lord to strengthen your heart in times of waiting and to give you courage in the midst of any uncertainty. Thank Him for His faithfulness and for the assurance that His goodness is not absent, even in the struggle.

Footnote
¹ Henri J.M. Nouwen, Waiting for God (New York: Paulist Press, 1981), 24.