The Process Before the Promise

My devotional this morning came from Lysa Terkeurst’s book, It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way. The scripture reference was Psalm 40. 

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened — burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me. May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.”

Psalm 40:1-17 NIV

Eight years ago, this was the chapter after which I chose to name my blog - New Song Psalm. At that time, I desperately needed God to bring me through Kevin’s Multiple Myeloma cancer diagnosis and subsequently, my own breast cancer diagnosis. And now I’m needing Him to bring me through the hurt and grief even after three years have passed that Kevin went to be with Jesus. I’m needing Him to show me through my most recent hurts and disappointments that He has “better” waiting for me. I really want to believe He’s working on me during the wait. 

In Lysa's book, she states, “Our hope can’t be tied to whether or not a circumstance or another person changes. Our hope must be tied to the unchanging promise of God. We hope for the good we know God will ultimately bring from our situation, whether the good turns out to match our desires or not. And sometimes that takes a while. The process will most likely require us to be persevering. Patient. Maybe even long-suffering.”

The idea of waiting patiently in verse 1 is incredibly important in this Psalm. My devotional said that the Hebrew word for waiting patiently indicates that the waiting is ongoing and holds a sense of eager expectancy and hope. 

I’m guilty of impatience. I confess that I ask often, “How long, Lord?” I cry. I wallow in my loneliness at times. But then after I look to God, my Good Father, He reminds me that I am His beloved and He is mine. I am to keep my eyes on Him to bring me to my new song, to remember how to sing. After the waiting, God promises in His Word to lift me from the miry clay and set my feet on a rock, a firm foundation. He promises to put a new song of praise in my mouth. 

I am to wait eagerly, in hope, on Him. The picture that comes to my mind is what I have seen in my almost two-year old granddaughter Caroline when Callie walks to the freezer and asks if she wants a popsicle. Caroline fiercely claps her hands, smiles explosively and does a little jig. It’s the cutest thing! She knows what’s in the freezer because she’s seen it before. She knows that her mom can give her this thing she desires and that she will when Callie feels it’s the right time. That’s what I picture when I think of the phrase “waiting expectantly and eagerly.”

Can I believe that God wants to put a new song in my mouth? Can I trust that He is preparing me to accept the good thing for which I am waiting? Can I know that He will sustain me through the “eagerly waiting, picking me up from the miry clay and setting my feet on a rock” stage? Yes, I can. Maybe I should try clapping my hands, smiling to my Father and doing a little dance of praise more often in the waiting. 

I know that the outcomes in this life aren’t always what we want. But God has the best outcome for us always. When we seek Him first and His righteousness, all these things will be added to us (Matt 6:33) And we can trust that He’s working on us in the waiting to receive what’s going to help us sing that new song of praise. He’s already given me a new song. I just need a little help remembering how to sing it some days.