"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." - Psalm 27:4
After 6 months, I found myself broken, confused, and overwhelmed. I'd begged and pleaded with the Lord, yet heard nothing. No matter how much I cried and silenced the noise in my mind, I couldn't hear Him. I was waiting for an answer, a breakthrough, healing, an opportunity, direction. But none of that came. My prayers were bouncing off the ceiling.
All of us, from time to time, know what it's like to experience the emotional exhaustion of waiting. And David, the author of Psalm 27:4, knew this incredibly well. Written during a time of great uncertainty, David knew waiting wasn't theoretical. He'd seen God answer prayers and come through again and again. And yet, here he was again, waiting on the Lord and telling us to do the same.
What David does tell us is that waiting requires courage. Why? Because waiting can be harder than acting. It's easy for me to jump the gun, apply for another job, and try to do it all. But waiting on the Lord before I even speak a word? Now that's a challenge. Especially when I'm trusting in the one who seems to have silenced His phone or put it on "do not disturb." But the faith that grows here digs deep. And God strengthens us while we wait. Thankfully, the strength we encounter today isn't found in circumstances. It's also not found in ourselves. Isaiah 40:31 actually tells us that our weakness is made strong in Christ:
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (NIV).
- For how would we know strength without weakness?
- How would we know when to run without walking?
- How would we know soaring without falling?
It's in our inabilities that we know God is the one sustaining us day by day. While I still don't like waiting, I've learned that waiting is often part of God's work. He works in hidden seasons and forms a deeper character than my timeline and agenda could ever produce. He always prepares before He provides. Today, answer these questions honestly with the Lord. Journal about them and share your thoughts with a trusted friend:
- What am I waiting for right now?
- Where do I need renewed courage?
- How might God be working beneath the surface?
Let's Pray ...
Dear Jesus,
Waiting is hard for me. No matter what season I find myself in, help me to wait patiently for your answers. Instead of jumping the gun or rushing to conclusions, allow me to wait on you well. Allow me to trust that you're enough and know that you have good plans for me, even if those good plans mean I need to wait. I love, praise, and thank you, Lord.
Amen.
What truth from today’s devotional is God using to encourage your heart? Share your reflection and join our conversation in the iBelieve Truth Devotional Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Olga Rolenko
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 29 June 2026.
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