Christian Living and Devotions: Psalm 27:14

Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah. - Psalm 27:14, American Standard Version

The exhortation to “wait for Jehovah” is not primarily a call to perform service for Him, but to remain before Him in quiet readiness, seeking to discern His will. It does not suggest the activity of a servant attending to his master, but the patient attentiveness of a child who desires to be guided. Every one of God’s children should pause long enough to receive His direction, rather than rushing ahead without regard for His purpose. The Wise Man counsels us, “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). Many have erred by failing to do this.

Once we have committed ourselves to Jehovah, we should move forward only as He opens the path. When His will is not yet clear, we must resist haste and self-reliance. Instead, we should bring the matter to Him in sincere prayer, asking that our own preferences be set aside so that His will alone may guide us. Then we must watch for the indications of His providence and follow where He seems to lead, leaving the outcome in His hands. We are not to choose our own course without evidence that it aligns with His purpose.

The poet expressed the right thought:

"I am afraid to touch
Things that involve so much."

As we wait on Jehovah, things might not always seem to go the way we think they should go. Yet, the Psalmist encourages us to be strong and courageous, for we're on the right path and will receive His blessing. When we wait on God, we're making the right choice. Others may seem to be getting ahead, but we must patiently wait for Jehovah's timing.

Below we present some advice that may be helpful regarding waiting on Jehovah:

Don't take a step without feeling confident that Jehovah is guiding you. Pay attention to His providences and study His Word. Hold onto your faith and be strong! "Be of good courage" means having a deep, unwavering courage that comes from trust in Him. Jehovah will strengthen and support us, making us strong to bear and do His will. Those who wait on Him will lack no good thing.

At the Red Sea, Jehovah instructed Israel to wait for Him so they might witness His deliverance. Their waiting allowed time for the tide and wind to uncover the reef that would serve as their path. During this period, God shielded them—His pillar of cloud bringing darkness to the Egyptians but light to the Israelites. When the moment was right, He commanded them to move forward safely across the exposed seabed.

In the same way, God often calls us to wait until He has prepared both us and our circumstances for the next step. During this waiting, He provides the guidance and strength we need. David sought God’s direction through the ephod and acted only when God’s will was made clear. Jesus, too, waited for the Father’s appointed time before beginning His ministry. Likewise, Paul withdrew to Arabia to discern God’s purpose before commencing his work.

At times, we face situations where duties seem to conflict, and Scripture alone may not reveal the right course. In such moments, we must set aside self-interest and worldly motives, seeking only to do God’s will. From that surrendered state, we can discern through the Spirit which principles or examples from Scripture apply. When the Spirit confirms one path over another, that reveals God’s direction.

Yet, there are occasions when even Scripture and the Spirit do not immediately make His will clear. Then we must continue to wait, watching how His providence unfolds. In time, as Word, Spirit, and circumstance align, His will becomes evident. God honors the sincere heart that waits upon Him, revealing His purpose at the right time.

Other Comments

TIME is an important element in all God's plans: we are not, therefore, to be disappointed when the test of endurance is applied while the blessings we crave tarry long. God took time to frame the world and to fit it for human habitation; time to give the world its necessary experience with evil; time to prepare for the advent of Christ as the world's Redeemer; time for the preparation of the Church to share in His glorious reign; and time must be allowed for the shaping and adjusting of the individual affairs of His people. God has not forgotten when the answers to our prayers seem to tarry long. He who heeds the sparrow's fall and numbers the very hairs of our heads is not indifferent to the faintest call or the smallest necessity of His humblest child. -- Excerpt from "The Ministry of Evil", Watch Tower, January 15, 1895.

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Our flesh usually wants everything done as quickly as possible. With prayer, however, we should always be mindful of God's ways, and how he works with us in his own time and way. Nevertheless, sometimes what we pray for may not be in our best interests, or may not be in harmony with God's will. We should not, therefore, be demanding of God, but always remember when requesting something, to add to that request, "if it be thy will". We should not endeavor to manipulate Jehovah into doing what we desire. And like Jesus, we should pray, "Not my will, but thine be done." Then, we should wait for Jehovah to perform his will in our life in his own way and his own time. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

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Experiences that may seem tumultuous at times are running in perfect order from Jehovah’s perspective, much like the spinning wheels seen by Ezekiel in his vision. Notice that in Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 Solomon uses “times” to describe a series of life’s events. This is not to be confused with prophetic “times,” but used as a circumstance in one’s life. Such is the transient and changeable nature of life on earth. In faith, however, we realize that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28 NASB). God will accomplish his purpose for us if we wait patiently on His timing. “These wait all for thee, that thou mayest give them their food in due season” (Psalms 104:27). -- Keith Belheumer. "Observations About Life", The Herald of Christ's Kingdom.

Related Scriptures:

Psalm 25:3

Psalm 25:5

Psalm 25:21

Psalm 33:20

Psalm 37:7

Psalm 39:7

Psalm 40:1

Psalm 62:1,2

Psalm 62:5

Psalm 60:3

Psalm 123:2