PSALM 5

At a stoplight cars begin to creep forward, anticipating the changing of the light. At Wal-Mart, we grumble because too few checkout lanes are staffed. Streaming entertainment services (finally) give us an opportunity to skip the interminable commercials. How often have you stood in front of the microwave, counting down the seconds until the process is finally finished?

“At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, HCSB)

When confronted with opposition our impatience grows exponentially. Enemies, obstacles, challenges are interruptions. If we pray at daybreak we anticipate answers before noon – at the latest. Watching expectantly needs to be limited to just a few moments. After all, we have important tasks to perform, important people to meet, and places to be.

This Psalm, a fitting prayer for any morning in our lives, calls us to wait. Wait patiently. We wait because we need perspective. Enemies abound. Interruptions are ceaseless. God hears our anxiety, God reads our innermost thoughts.

“But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You. Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my adversaries; make Your way straight before me.” (Psalm 5:7–8, HCSB)

In God’s presence, every interruption is transformed into an opportunity. Even enemies are no longer to be feared. In God’s presence, which we enter only because of His overwhelming grace, we are given shelter, He becomes our shield, He is the One who goes before us. We wait with expectancy because we know from our own past experiences and from the record of God’s faithfulness in the past that He will act, He will make Himself known. Enemies will be revealed for their unreliable nature. Adversaries who boast will be silenced. All we have to do is…

WAIT. God will act.  God will prove Himself faithful.