“but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.”
Psalms 119:121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken. Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.
Psalms 119:81-82 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
Psalms 69:3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
Psalms 130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Psalms 143:7 Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Lamentations 4:17 Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.
Psalms 63:6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
Psalms 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
Lamentations 2:19 “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord!
Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.
“He looked to God alone, he looked eagerly, he looked long, he looked till his eyes ached. The mercy is, that if our eyes fail, God does not fail, nor do his eyes fail.” (Spurgeon)
This waiting expectation shows us that faith came before experience. The Psalmist was willing to have faith until the experience came, and would wait for God’s salvation, and wait as long as it took.
The Psalmist wanted understanding; but not so much to know the future or some hidden secrets of his soul or that of someone else. He wanted this understanding so that he would know the testimonies of God better.
There is much that confuses us, but none more than the interference of waiting, in faith, for God’s plan and purpose. Waiting is good, for it keeps our heart, mind and soul desiring and seeking to see God’s provision. Waiting takes faith.
In our waiting satan will throw many temptations of action our way – none of which, if acted upon, are going to be in line with God’s will for us. Our actions, apart from those being God directed, in a time of waiting will never satisfy or fulfill the need we seek
Though it does not seem like it, waiting is action – Action of the heart and mind committed and purposed to see, hear and understand the will of God.
In waiting faith we grow anticipation of God’s action. The best place to be while waiting, is in His word feeding on His promises, grace, mercy, strength, power, and steadfast love. It is in our waiting that we hear more clearly the whispers of His quiet small voice leading and confirming action to come.
Not my will Lord God, but yours. Your plans are perfect for my life. Your timing is faultless.