As I look at my life today, or last week, or last month, three months ago, a year ago, two or three years ago…..I see one major thing in common: At each of those times and every time in between…..there were different issues in my life. Today’s issues are simply just a new list. Each of those times I have wanted to cry out to God to help me….to be with me.
Each of those times as I waited patiently…..He heard my call. I learned that if I simply trusted in Him and in His provision–He would–HE WOULD provide what I needed to get through “the list”. You see….Jesus loves me and he love U2!
Psalms 40:1 (TNIV)
I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.
The Hebrew words here translated as “waited patiently” are “qawwo qiwiti“. Both come from the same dictionary word, “qawa“. (This is kind of like saying “I loved lovingly”. Love and lovingly come from the same dictionary word, “love”). What’s important is that these two words, “qawwo qiwiti” and “qawa“, both impart the meaning of, “to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial, often with a focus of anticipation in a future event”.
As we trust God with our lives and all that is going on around us, patience is more than simply waiting…it is looking “forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial” with a focus and anticipation of His deliverance and His will being done in our lives.
When we can trust God with our daily struggles, our daily temptations, our daily “list”……we are promised that He will turn and hear our cry….because He loves me and He loves U2!
In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, The Septuagint (or the LXX), the Greek word used here for “waited patiently” is “hypomeno” which carries the meaning of “standing firm, persevere”. Notice its use here
James 1:12 (TNIV)
Blessed are those who PERSEVERE under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
That tired old song in our heart of trying to rely on our own guidance….how long will we sing it? Sing a new song! Trust Jesus!
So let’s take a look at the source from Which Bono wrote the great song, “40”:
Psalms 40:1-3 (TNIV)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.
May you recognize that no matter what you have gone through, indeed, no matter what you are going through, and as you anticipate the future things that you WILL go through—–may you recognize that Jesus is there to give you strength. May you recognize that He is there to lift you up out of that mire and clay! Sing a new song! May you recognize that Jesus loves U2!