Psalm 27 - Be Strong and Let Your Heart Take Courage

The verse of the day was already highlighted in my Bible and as I read it, I was already challenged by it. Little did I know how God would use his word to move in my heart in just one day.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”  

-Psalm 27:14

What are you waiting for?

... a job, a spouse, a deep breath, a test result, a child, a client to call you back, a calm heart, a friend or family member to call Jesus their Lord and Savior? …the list goes on.

I may not have mentioned your wait, but that is okay. God knows and he is using this wait time for your heart to take courage, which is defined as “strength in the face of pain or grief.” I believe the courage David is speaking of in Psalm 27 is that of courage to hold fast to the Lord, his promises, his will and his plans as he is faced with pain and grief. He talks about the troubles that will come, and how God hides him, shelters him, conceals him under his tent, lifting him high upon a rock (v 5). David then talks about his head lifted high above his enemies, offering the Lord sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy (v 6). I don’t know about you, but when the Lord holds me, comforts me, and shelters me, I feel and see his kindness. I do shout for joy and sing and make melody to him. He knows us. He knows what we will walk through and how it all will help us to take courage to keep moving forward. To keep trusting. To be bold to share.

It is the trials, the suffering, the times waiting that teach us and lead us. I love that in verses 7-14 David shares his heart, his cry and then he asks God to be who he says he is. To keep him in his love, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (Jude 21). David doesn’t want to be turned over to his enemies or anything or anyone not of God. He is battling. God is developing him into a strong man. Not in human strength but in heart strength so that he can trust deeply, believe fully and take courage.

The more I reflect on our lifetime of waiting and as God changes my perspective to align with his heart, my “what” am I waiting for changes. I believe I will probably always be waiting for something earthly because I am human. But when I stop focusing on the here and now, my circumstances and everything I want control of, I experience deeper peace with the Lord. Quite literally, God takes the load off (Matthew 11:28-30) as I wait for him and then I can see glimmers of his work in me and those around me. Beauty.

I want to be a strong daughter of the Most High who is waiting expectantly, patiently, joyfully and courageously to see all of what God is doing and going to do. Letting my heart take courage. I will pray this for you too.

With much love, may God richly bless you today as you wait on him today.

Andrea