Reading: Psalm 69
(Verses 13-18)
But I pray to you, LORD,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes (NIV).*
Forest floor — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
I have a confession to make and here it is: I don’t understand God.
Maybe a better way of putting this is to say that I have a limited understanding of God. Yes, I have studied a lot about God, and I have written a lot about Him, but my understanding is small—minuscule beside an all-knowing God of infinite wisdom.
In particular I do not understand God’s timing. When I pray, I want prompt answers. I run my life by a clock and a schedule, but God seems quite unimpressed by my propensity for planning. He’s been known to show up when I least expect Him. Furthermore, when I desperately want Him to put in an appearance, He usually keeps me waiting.
God can be unpredictable like a bad date. Speaking of a date, dear Lord, is that answer I want coming tomorrow, next week or next year?
Apparently I’m in good company. David seemed to have the same problem with God. Hear his plea, “But I pray to you, LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.“
There’s one thing I know. God is not my heavenly bellhop. But amazing things happen in the time of God’s favor. So like David, I’ll call out to Him. I’ll wait for Him. He is well worth waiting for, because when the LORD shows up everything changes. I change; the world changes.
Response: LORD God, favor me. Show up in your perfect timing. I need you now. I need you always. You know best. Teach me patience and grant me peace. Answer me with your sure salvation. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you like me? Do you sometimes get impatient with God?
* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Some good news: The first volume of 365 Days through the Psalms by award-winning author David Kitz will be published in November, 2020, by Elk Lake Publishing. Two additional volumes will follow in 2021 to complete the three volume set of devotions from the Psalms.
I recognise myself in your post today David, we are so alike in this matter brother! I am not the most patient guy in this world, thus our Father is forever having to teach me patience. The beauty in this is how He is making us more like His Son if we surrender to Him.
Thank you David for your faithfulness in these devotionals, they are a constant source of insight and blessing. May our Father God bless you richly today brother.
Be blessed as well, Alan.
He is our great Physician and we are His “patients”. So, just as patients in a hospital wait on the doctor or wait in the doctor’s office, we wait on our Great Physician to make His rounds (not exactly but kind of, we know He is there all the time but you get the picture). We must learn to be patient because we are His patients.
A great observation, Wally. Thanks.
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