In the hidden place of our hearts, we all have things we are waiting and hoping for, expecting the Lord in His time to carry out for us. As we hang on to our beliefs, we may even experience times of “resting in Him,” which furnish us with relief by the way of spiritual refreshment. A other times, when difficulty, uncertainty, or pain show up, quite the opposite happens, and we lose courage as we struggle to wait and believe on God to move. Suddenly our fears overwhelm us, and we lose the determination to stay on our chosen course of action: trusting and waiting on God. As our hearts falter, we lose the ability to process through the hardship, which leaves us feeling that our circumstances are too long and too hard.

Nonetheless, waiting on God is His tool, designed to work the negative out of our lives as He works positive fruit into our hearts. Any ability to “hope for” the Lord’s action in the face of difficulty requires that He give us the courage to persist and face tomorrow. As our attention focuses on God’s promises and power to fulfill our deep desires and needs, we will able able to say with courage of heart: “Be brave and of good courage, and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”

Lord, give us courage as we expect you, the living Lord, to help us through today and fulfill the hopes and dreams you have put in our hearts for tomorrow.

“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord: be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord” (Psalm 27