O God, do not be silent!
Do not be deaf.
Do not be quiet, O God.
... Then they will learn that
you alone are called the Lord,
that you alone are the Most High,
supreme over all the earth.
Psalm 83:1,18
These are the first and last verses of this Psalm.
In between is a lot of lament. Israel is lamenting the venom of their invaders. Thus, they are calling on God ...
"O God, do not be silent." (First verse.)
Why? Because "then they will learn that you alone are ... Lord." (Last verse.)
What's the purpose of the prayer? That God would change these in-between times. Why? Because our current in-between times are currently filled with frustration and defeat.
Wait ... what is the purpose of this prayer? It is confidence that God can act. (He's not a weak God who is unable to act. He is not a distant God who doesn't care. He is the Lord God Almighty ... your comforter and provider.)
Yet where does this prayer come from? From the midst of the storm. From a moment when we can't see God acting ... at least in the way and with the speed that we'd like. Yes, this prayer comes from a situation demanding patience and trust.
And that's the whole buoyancy of a heathy Christian. It's knowing that God is active. It is knowing that God is caring. And it is waiting -- trusting and patient -- knowing that God will act in a time, place, and way that is best for your life and his kingdom.
Yes, faith is trusting and waiting, waiting and trusting.
In Christ's Love
a guy with a record
(the more I wait and trust and pray,
the more I've seen God's provision,
and the more I'll patiently trust
the next time my present is challenging.)
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