Lord, Hear My Voice

Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 130:1-8

Parents wait for their prodigal child to return. We hope the waiting is worth whatever it is. In the process, we learn patience.

God, who is timeless, requires of us a mature faith that may involve delays that seem like trials. Patience is one sign of that maturity, a quality that can develop only through the passing of time.

Many prayers in the Bible come out of the act of waiting. The Israelites waited 4 centuries for deliverance. Moses waited 4 decades for the call to lead them, then 4 more decades for a Promised Land he would not enter.

Pray for the patience to endure times of trial, to keep anticipating, keep hoping, keep believing. Pray for patience to be patient.

God seldom does great things in a hurry.

Our Daily Bread – May 14, 2011