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We are onto our third Bible verse that we are memorizing together. Our first verse was Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God.” This verse reminded us to slow down and remember who God is.

Last week we memorized a verse from John 1:14 “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only son from the father, full of grace and truth.” This one reminded us to SEE who God is and why it matters that He sent Jesus.

This week we are back in the book of Psalms. Remember, Psalms were often songs that were written by different people, for different purposes. This week our verse comes from Psalm 37:7 and we believe this is something David wrote. It says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” This verse is actually similar to the other verse we memorized from Psalms but it doesn’t stop with simply being still, it goes on to say wait patiently for Him.

Waiting is hard. Waiting patiently is even harder. God is good and because we can trust Him, we can wait for Him. We may want something or feel like we need to react to something immediately, but this verse reminds us to wait patiently because God is always working in our hearts to shape and form us to be more like Him! 

Today’s challenge is to say this verse, out loud, 10 times. BUT, each time you have to say it in a different voice. Here are some examples; whisper, loud as you can, high pitched voice, deep voice, like you are from a different country, like a pig, like a bird, like you are out of breath, like you are a robot, like you are a character from a movie.

Use the examples, or make up 10 of your own, but repeat today’s verse at least 10 times! Go!

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7a

Okay, so can we be honest? Waiting isn’t fun! Whether it’s an event you’re looking forward to like a concert or a party, or your birthday, or a holiday like . . . well, Christmas, we don’t like to have to wait. Because waiting takes patience, and patience is hard!

Waiting is also hard when we’re waiting in the middle of tough life events. Like if you’re waiting for a diagnosis for a loved one or for yourself. Or if you’re struggling with your emotions and feelings and hoping to get to a better state of mind, it’s hard to wait. Maybe you’ve been praying for something specific in your walk with God or praying for something difficult going on in your life and you just haven’t gotten the answer you want or don’t really feel like God is answering at all. No matter the situation, waiting and patience are hard!

Well, you’re not alone in feeling like you have to wait. It’s something that’s actually a pretty big part of the story of Jesus’ birth. All of God’s people, the Israelites, had been waiting for about 400 years for the promised Messiah to come and rescue them. The prophets had told about Jesus’ birth, but for hundreds of years there hadn’t even been a prophetic writing or a revelation from God. God’s people were left to continue living their lives the best they could in anticipation of the rescue that was promised. And eventually . . . God did move. He did respond.

What would it look like for us to wait with patience and expectation for God to move in our lives? Long before Jesus was born, King David, in his old age, wrote Psalm 37, and in verse 7, he wrote, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” As an older man at this point, David probably had a lot of experience waiting on God to answer him and to move in his life. The truth is that God is always in control and is always working. It’s just not always in our timing and when WE want Him to move. But He loves us. He cares about our needs and our wants. And He will move. Our job is to share our hearts with Him and be still . . . and wait.

What is something that you’re currently waiting for that’s making it hard to be patient?

What makes it hard sometimes to wait on God?

Take a moment to practice being still and quiet, simply waiting and being with God. Set a timer on your phone for 5 minutes, find a quiet place where you can be alone, and just be with God in silence.

“In our anticipation, O Lord, teach us to wait with patience and expectation.”

Psalm 37:7a (ESV) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 

Waiting can be one of the most difficult spiritual disciplines. We want answers, solutions, and resolutions quickly. The modern pace of life conditions us to expect immediate gratification, whether it's through the tap of a smartphone screen or the click of a mouse. We've become accustomed to having our needs and desires met with lightning speed, often forgetting that the rhythms of the Christian life often require a peaceful pause, a quiet trust in God's perfect timing.

The season of Advent calls us to a posture of patient waiting and hopeful expectation. As we anticipate the arrival of Christ, may we learn to wait well. The prophet Isaiah reminds us, "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). In the waiting, our souls are strengthened, our perspectives are broadened, and our faith is deepened. Far from being a passive or unproductive posture, waiting with patience and expectation requires an active engagement of the mind and heart. Advent is a sacred invitation to slow down, to quiet our restless hearts, and to savor the anticipation of Christ's coming. It is a time to reflect on our own need for a Savior and to meditate on the transformative power of God's promises. During this season, we are called to pause amidst the frenzied pace of holiday preparations and year-end deadlines, creating space to draw near to God and to prepare our hearts for the arrival of the Messiah.

We must vigilantly guard against the temptation to fill the void of waiting with distractions or diversions. It's easy to turn to social media, binge-watching, or mindless entertainment as a way to cope with the discomfort of delay. But these temporary fixes only serve to numb us, preventing us from engaging in the deeper work that transformation requires. Instead, we are invited to cultivate a spirit of prayerful attentiveness, eagerly watching for the first glimmers of dawn, the first stirrings of the Messiah's approach.

Like the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks on that first Christmas night, may we be ready to respond with wonder and worship when the angels announce, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:14). May we resist the urge to rush past the season of Advent, recognizing it as a sacred time of preparation, reflection, and hopeful expectation. For it is in the waiting that our souls are nourished, our faith is strengthened, and our longing for the Savior's arrival is kindled anew. Ultimately, Advent urges us to trust in God's perfect timing, to find contentment in the present moment, and to orient our hearts toward the eternal hope that Christ's coming promises. As we actively wait, may we be sustained by the knowledge that our strength will be renewed, that we will "run and not be weary, [we] shall walk and not faint." For the One who calls us to wait is the same One who will faithfully bring about the fulfillment of all His promises.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:

Psalm 37:7a (ESV) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 

• What areas of your life require you to trust in God's perfect timing? What would it look like to “wait well”?