Take Courage...and Wait

Psalm 27
Of David


1 The Lord is my light and my salvation
     whom shall I fear?
     The Lord is the stronghold of my life
     of whom shall I be afraid?


2  When the wicked advance against me
     to devour me,
     it is my enemies and my foes
     who will stumble and fall.


3  Though an army besiege me,
     my hear will not fear
     though war break out against me
     even then I will be confident.


...


14 Wait for the LORD;
     be strong and take heart
     and wait for the LORD.


Psalm 27 is one of the lectionary readings for Sunday.  From beginning to end, it speaks of our ability to have confidence in the Lord despite our current circumstances.  No false promises of immediate rescue or the destruction of enemies are made. Rather, it appears to assume the opposite - that days of trouble will come, war will break out and family will desert us.  

Yet in spite of this, the Psalmist displays confidence in the goodness of the Lord. How is this confidence possible?  Perhaps it is due to the realizations contained in the very first verse, which are echoed in Romans 8:31b-32 - 


"If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare His own Son, but
gave Hi up for us all - how will He not also,
along with Him, graciously give us all things?"


Father, too often we allow the worries and stresses of our lives to crowd out Your voice and block our view of You.  Remind us that You know everything that is happening to us and have promised Your presence, Your love, and Your deliverance. Nothing can separate us from You.  During this season of Lent, encourage us to release to Your care those things that are weighing us down and drawing our energy and attention from You.  Restore to us the joy of our salvation.     Amen