I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
The darkest hour, as the saying goes, is just before dawn. Envision the weary watchmen, guarding an ancient city at the gates or along the walls through the night with only the stars in the heavens to illumine their steps. Yawning and bleary-eyed, they long for that firs, faint glimmer of light on the eastern horizon, the promise of day break and relief from their tedious duties. Their wait becomes more interminable with every passing second, yet they cling to the hope: "Any minute now . . . any minute now . . ."
Have you experienced days of darkness and desolation when you could not feel God's presence in your life? Perhaps you were facing a difficult choice or circumstance about which you had prayed, but there was no immediate answer. You waited for the Lord with every fiber of your being, holding fast to the hope that seemed so far away, desperately desiring the light of His company. Did you continue to pray because, even though you cont not feel His presence, you knew, in your heart of hearts, He was listening, that He cared for you and your needs?
In those times when God seems so removed from you, remember that His love is as steadfast and reliable as the dawning day. Let strength rise within you as you wait for Him, trusting like the watchmen: "Any minute now . . ."
Psalms 119:145-176 or 128, 129, 130
1 Samuel 12:1-6, 16-25