18 But look here: the Lord’s eyes watch all who honor him,
all who wait for his faithful love,
19 to deliver their lives from death
and keep them alive during a famine.
20 We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
21 Our heart rejoices in God
because we trust his holy name.
22 Lord, let your faithful love surround us
because we wait for you.
Reflection
Waiting is hard. And yet, so much of life involves waiting.
As children, we wait to grow up so we can be free and independent. As adults, we wait for a season when life feels a little easier—perhaps when we can rest more or work less. As Christians, we wait for the day when injustice ends, when peace prevails, when heaven is realized here on earth. Ultimately, we are waiting for God to come again and redeem all things.
This kind of waiting can wear us down. It can stir up anxiety and steal our joy.
But Psalm 33 reminds us of something vital: waiting with hope in the Lord is never wasted. God is not distant while we wait, God is our helper, our protector, and our joy. God’s faithful love surrounds us WHILE we wait, not just when the waiting is over.
So maybe waiting doesn’t have to be a burden. When we place our trust in God, our waiting becomes a form of active faith. It becomes patient endurance. We can rest in the truth that God is at work, even in the in-between moments. We don’t wait alone—we wait with God, in God, and for God.
by Manny Estevez
For Pondering and Prayer
Are you okay with waiting, or does it make you feel impatient, anxious, or even angry?
What are you waiting for right now in your life? How long have you been waiting?
Have you invited God into your waiting and asked God help you stay patient?
Prayer: God, help us to remember during our seasons of waiting that You are always with us. Let us be aware of Your faithful love surrounding us every step of the way. Teach us to place our hope fully in You, so that our waiting becomes joyful instead of burdensome. In the loving and patient name of Jesus we pray, amen.
