It's 2:30AM, and I'm waiting for another 30 minutes so I can call the court in Mississippi re: how to handle the speeding ticket that I got earlier this year. That was the last thing I needed after having attended my uncle's funeral and driving all the way from Orlando to Louisiana for the first time, while preparing to move to Hawaii, looking for a job, dealing with real estate issues, etc.
While waiting for the clock, I decided to read Scripture before Satan tries to plant more discouraging ideas in my head. Psalm 13 was just what the Doctor had ordered! The Psalmist sounded pretty desperate and dramatic at the opening of the chapter: "HOW LONG (take note, in ALL CAPS) wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?..."
It's great to see in this chapter that we can have an open dialogue with the Lord. Yes, we can vent! The key here is that he never lost hope while waiting. He kept on trusting God despite his woes! Apparently, the chapter had a happy ending - not necessarily one where God answered his prayer. David didn't need an answered prayer in order to have joy from within. All he needed was God. Praise God he was still able to say in verse 6, "I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me."
David changed his focus from himself (beginning of the chapter) to God (ending of the chapter). May we be able to say the same kind of prayer. May we be able to have the same kind of attitude. Where have we placed our focus?
It's so easy to focus on our circumstances as we wait on the Lord to answer a specific prayer...as we wait on Him to "bless" us in a certain way (yes, I am still waiting for the right job to come at the right time). In doing so, we sometimes forget about the other blessings He had already showered us with, blessings that we can think upon or even take advantage of at this very moment to bless others, despite our need.
I can name quite a few instances where God had to remind me of great blessings that seem to keep on slipping my mind--things that I can enjoy for myself and/or share with others, while waiting. He uses the needs of others to "remind" me of what He has already given me. And, it doesn't seem to end there. After I gladly agree to share my blessings, God then makes a way where I can share them and use them for myself, too! It's just like that poor widow's cruse of oil that never ran out when she agreed to share whatever food she had left to share with Elijah.
It is when you open your hand instead of closing your fist during a time of great need that you can truly say the words in Psalm 13:6: "I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me."
It's now exactly 3:00AM. It's time to call Mississippi at 8:00AM their time.
Related article: The Waiting Game
