It’s Friday and I can’t wait to dive into two beautiful Psalms with you. Join me as we continue to study what it looks like to wait on the Lord. I always picture myself with my palms open and out like, Lord, I’m trusting you. I’m giving you my life. I’m giving you my worries. I’m putting them all in your hands. So, as we read these words together, let’s do that.
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Transcription:
It’s a shame they don’t make hold music more exciting, right? Hi, it’s the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica, and it is time for Joy Bombs in the Psalms because it’s Friday and I can’t wait to dive into two beautiful Psalms with you. I believe you’re going to come up out of these pools of God’s word, feeling refreshed and revived in your season of waiting. And I want to encourage you to do something too the next time you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or you’ve got the whole music going on the phone while you’re making a doctor’s appointment, hopefully you’ve got it on speaker so you can do other things, but I’ll give you a little idea that you might be able to sow into the quilt of your life coming up in moments. But first, join me now as we continue to study what it looks like to wait on the Lord. And I always picture myself with my palms open and out like, Lord, I’m trusting you. I’m giving you my life. I’m giving you my worries. I’m putting them all in your hands. So, as we read these words together, imagine yourself doing the same thing. Psalm 33 now.
The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. 14 From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. 15 He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.
Let me pitch a little tent here. Do you know that God sees you? In Genesis, He is called the God who sees. There’s not a sparrow that doesn’t fall to the ground without God knowing about it. And if he cares about sparrows and if he takes the time to name the bazillion stars in the sky, he sees you and all of the circumstances that are happening and unfolding in your life right now? He sees you and he understands your heart because he made it. Verse 16 now.
The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. 17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you. 18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. 19 He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.
The Lord is watching over you. He knows that you are sitting in the waiting room. But the important thing to remember, is not only does he know, is he aware of everything, he’s with you. He’s holding your hand. Have you ever sat in the waiting room of a hospital and held the hand of a loved one? You were looking up at that screen to see if you could see an update, or you wanted to walk up to the desk and ask the receptionist, “What do you know? Have the doctor sent any messages?” Can you tell I’m a mom who’s watched her son go through many surgeries and come out, Praise the Lord, thriving on the other side. Yeah, I’ve been there. The Lord is holding your hand in the waiting room of life right now. Verse 20.
We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
I want you to just stop for a moment wherever you are and picture yourself surrounded by the love of God. And I would love to paint a picture of what that looks like for you right now. Last time you and I were together, I was telling you about my trip to Ghana in Africa when I crossed that bridge in Kakum National Park, deep in the forests of Africa. But there was something else that happened on that trip. There were so many precious children that I got to meet and I looked so different from them. And every time I came upon a different group, they would surround me with their hugs and their smiles and their love. And that’s, I believe what it looks like to be surrounded by God’s love. He’s smiling on you. He sees you. He’s close. Okay, I want to dive into Psalm 138 before we wrap up our time together and before I issue a little challenge to you, as I promised at the beginning of this episode.
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. 2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
Yes! Earlier this week we talked about how those who trust in the Lord will gain new strength, will mount up on wings like eagles, right from Isaiah. Okay, verse four now.
Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. 5 Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great. 6 Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand,
Yep. He’s holding your hand in the waiting room.
and the power of your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Okay. So right now you are surrounded by the unfailing love of Jesus Christ. Sure. Surrounded by troubles too. I get it. But you’re surrounded by the love of God. It’s all around you. He’s holding your hand. So here’s my challenge for you; the next time you’re on the phone and you hear hold music or you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, or I don’t know, if somebody’s in the bathroom in the house and you’re like, okay, my turn. I really need to get in the shower now. Whatever it is, whenever you’re waiting, I want you to remember these words:
The Lord will work out his plans for my life.
Those words we just read from Psalm 138,
The Lord will work out his plans for my life.
I trust you, Lord. Every time you find yourself waiting, go to that place mentally and see if you don’t feel the love of God all around you. See, if you don’t feel him holding your hand. He’s right there while you wait. Alright, until next time, you are so loved.
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