Joel M Bradshaw

7“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
8Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!–Psalm 39

During the quarantine of 2020 I recorded a short podcast series called WAIT. It explored four biblical chapters from the season when David was a fugitive on the run. David was the next anointed king, but chose to wait upon God’s timing rather than seizing the throne by force. I’ve included the first episode from that series. If you like it, look for parts 2-4. Masterclass Theology is on all major podcasting platforms.

In our verses today David linked waiting with hoping. Hope always has a focus, and for David that focus was God. The things David hoped for were matters that unfolded as God handled His business. It appears that David saw his situation with enemies as an outflow of his own sin problem. So he longed for forgiveness.

This does lead us to ponder the things we hope for and find our heart waiting for. Are they for things that are temporary or selfish? Or are they the things of God? In my lonely years as a young adult, I waited for companionship. I wanted what other people seemed to have. And I wanted other people to see me as likable or even lovable. Looking back I wish I had been longing for God more than for a date. My hope was and is centered in the very God who loves me more than anyone ever will, so I should have focused on him more than my selfishness.

One of the greatest hopes is that God will use our stories for his glory. I wish I was more concerned about that then. I met with a young man last night who was looking for purpose as he waited for the things he wants in life. I directed him to pursue Jesus at the same time he pursues self-denial. That’s an arrow pointing away from the self as the answer and another pointing to Jesus who is.

I wish that same younger me would have followed those arrows, and I shared that with him. When I meet with people trapped in their addictions, I recall that I was once trapped in mine. And those addictions are fed by rationalizations and excuses which are in turn maintained by stories we tell ourselves. And those stories should be biblically centered upon waiting for God to provide and having an attitude of hope.

I’m grateful that God can and does use my story for His glory. But I still wait for things today. Are they for godly things or selfish? Where is my hope? How about yours?–JMB