"Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22 (ESV)

We were already late.

I could feel tension building in the back of my neck as I stared at the long road ahead and wondered, Will we make it in time?

My son's basketball game was starting in 30 minutes, and we were still 20 minutes away from the gym.

The team was counting on Carson to show up and play. Carson was counting on me to get him there on time.

Then it happened. Up ahead I could see the stream of cars slowing down. Within seconds we were forced to a snail's pace and then a complete stop.

Noooo! Not now. Not today!

With a heavy, nervous sigh I glanced at my watch, hoping the time would miraculously come to a standstill like my car. But it didn't and as the clock ticked, I began to panic.

Minutes seemed like hours as we waited ... and waited ... and waited. There must be an accident up ahead. Maybe a car broke down. Surely it's something major to cause all this traffic on a Saturday morning!

Finally, the traffic started moving again. I kept looking ahead waiting to discover the reason for all the road congestion. But nothing materialized, and my panic turned to frustration.

I wanted to see a tangible reason - something to blame - for all that waiting, waiting, waiting. It's ironic how my life can be that way sometimes.

I'll be moving along, making progress in my journey, when all of a sudden things come to a standstill. But instead of slowly maneuvering my way through temporary traffic, I find myself parked in the proverbial Valley of Wait.

Not seeing a tangible reason or knowing how long I'll be there can be frustrating.

Selfishly, I want immediate answers, and I'm quick to ask, "Why Lord? I don't understand."

It's in those situations and difficult seasons of life that I need to remember the truth of today's key verse: "Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you" (Psalm 33:20-22).

As my soul waits in the valley, I am not alone. God is there. Helping me. Shielding me. Protecting me.

As my soul waits in the valley, I can experience His gladness instead of my own frustration. Simply hearing the whispers of His holy Name fills my heart with joy.

As my soul waits in the valley, I can trust in God's goodness by remembering His faithfulness in seasons past.

As my soul waits in the valley, I have hope despite all that's around me, because God's unfailing love rests upon me.

It's taken me a long time to learn this valuable lesson: I would rather live in the Valley of Wait with Jesus than journey through life on my own.

For my soul can only find true rest in His presence. Where He is ... that's where I want to be.

I may never discover all the reasons why I needed to tarry there, but with God by my side, I'll know it was meant to be.

Heavenly Father, I love You and I'm so grateful You love me, too. I never want to be apart from Your presence. I want to experience every moment of my life with You, even if that means living in the Valley of Wait. You are everything to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

***

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Lamentations 3:25, "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." (ESV)

Isaiah 30:18, "Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." (ESV)

RELATED RESOURCES:

What if the next big step God asks you to take is actually small? No matter what God has called you to, you can take the next step through Lysa TerKeurst's What Happens When Women Walk in Faith.

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REFLECT AND RESPOND:

Are you living in the Valley of Wait today? Friend, trust that your time there is not wasted. What is God teaching you? How is it changing your relationship with Him? Who do you want to become during this season of wait?

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