Psalm 130 teaches us a lot (as every Psalm does) that we can follow in our own lives.
When we are suffering (or in any circumstance really), this Psalm gives us an example of few things that we can do.
First, PRAY.
Whatever we are going through, let us first take it to God and lay it before Him.
Vs. 1-2 - Let us pray honestly. Desperately. Authentically.
Pray!
God already knows what is going on in our hearts and minds. He knows our feelings even before we feel them. So, why hide them from Him? He has asked us to bring everything to Him (Philippians 4:6-7). So friend, let us take our everything to God in prayer.
And let us take them authentically. Being open and honest with God. Let us not put up a false face and pretend in our prayers. Who do we think we are fooling when we do this anyways? We are only fooling ourselves.
So talk with Him honestly. Cry out to Him in truth.
Next, WAIT ON HIM.
Psalm 130:5-6
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.
A watchman is a security guard, employed to look after a building, especially at night. Growing up in a developing country, it was common to see watchmen employed outside of homes.
Friend, how do watchmen wait for the morning?
They perform their duty of watching throughout the night in the HOPE and FAITH of the rising sun, knowing and never doubting that morning will come and they can finally go home and rest.
Do they ever question if morning will come?
No. Never.
They know, without a shadow of doubt, that morning WILL come.
And it is with this absolute faith and resolute hope, that they endure the long dreary night.
Sometimes, the nights may seem so desperately cold, lonely and prolonged. But no matter how bad it gets, the watchman KNOWS that morning is coming. His hope and faith in the rising sun never wavers. And because of this steadfast hope, he can endure the darkest of nights.
The Psalmist repeats this sentence twice.
"I will wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning."
So how do we wait?
After praying boldly and honestly and taking our request and situation to God, how do we wait on Him?
We wait like the watchman.
With unwavering steadfast hope in the Lord.
With hope. Against all odds. With hope. And faith.
Like the faith that a watchman has trusting that the sun will rise,
we must have faith in God,
knowing and trusting that He loves us and will take care of us, no matter how dark the night.
We place our hope in Him alone.
Lamentation 3:19-26
The thought of my suffering and homelessness
is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
We must have hope in Him no matter how desperate the circumstances around us look and feel. Again, look at the watchman. Even on the longest of nights, does he ever give up hope, thinking that morning will never come? No. The sun rises, He knows that. He does not doubt it. He knows that it is coming.
In that same way, friend, do not doubt God. Trust Him. And know that His answer to your prayer is already on its way.
Know that our God is the King of the Universe. He is the Almighty God who can do anything and everything and He loves you beyond anything you can ever imagine.
So trust Him.
Wait on Him patiently (James 5:7-11).
Despite the odds. Even when everything around us contradicts us.
Trust that He has already done it! (Mark 11:24)
So friend, if your night right now seems desperately long, pray earnestly to Him, cry out in truth, lay your worries at His feet, and then wait on Him.
Wait in absolute unwavering steadfast hope and faith.
And friend, REJOICE and praise Him for the deliverance which is already on its way! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Romans 4:18-25
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”
And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.
And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
Psalm 130
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.