My Soul Waits for the Lord
By Rachel Wright
What are you waiting for?
Have you ever been in a place where you feel stuck? Where you feel as though life is passing by but you’re not moving with it? Where you feel like your sin is overwhelming, making you feel ashamed and broken?
The Bible passage we will read today is written by a person who feels overwhelmed by their sin. And who is also waiting on the Lord while he goes through hardships. Maybe you are waiting for a trial to pass or waiting to see God answer a prayer that you have been praying for years. The amazing thing about waiting is that God is with you in the waiting–EVEN when you feel like He isn’t. In fact, not only is He with you, He desires for you to share your feelings of sorrow and pain with Him in the midst of the hardships you are facing.
Before we read this passage from Psalms, take a moment to truly connect with God and share what is on your heart. Tell Him of your stress, anger, anxieties, or sin struggles that you can’t seem to triumph over. Whatever it is, talk to Him and tell him what’s on your mind. And then pray that He would reveal what He has for you today in this passage.
PSALM 130 My Soul Waits for the Lord
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Now grab your Bible and read the passage again. Underline what interests you, write down your observations, and briefly jot down the main idea and how you could apply this passage to your life currently.
Notice that this Psalm is a hopeful psalm. Although we may become weighed down with our own sin, or be struggling through hardship, there is abundant hope. God saves us from our sin with his merciful salvation! How awesome is that?
The Psalmist also reveals that God loves us with a steadfast love. He hears our cries to Him. In fact, He heard the prayer that you prayed just before reading this Psalm. Not only did He hear you, He cares about you. He cares so much for you that He sent Jesus to die for you.
Let’s take some time to contemplate this passage and answer a few reflection questions. Grab your journal and a pen and prepare to write down thoughts and reflections on the following questions.
What sin struggle makes you feel ashamed or distant from God? Do you truly believe that God can redeem you from your sin?
What does it look like to live a life as a person redeemed by God? What does it mean for God to love you with a “steadfast love?” Read vs 5. How do you practically “hope in His word?”
What are you waiting on the Lord for?
How can you keep moving forward even while you are waiting on the Lord?
Sometimes God says “yes” to prayers, or says “wait,” or says “no.” If God answers your prayer with a “no,” are you willing to trust that His plan is better than yours?