The goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

When it seems like our circumstances are going down the toilet how do we keep our hearts encouraged? It seems to me that one key can be found in Psalm 27:13, 14.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 (NASB95)


Two simple bits of wisdom here. First, the Psalmist says that he would have despaired if he hadn't "believed that he would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." He isn't saying that he SAW the goodness of God, but that he WOULD SEE... in the land of the living. I think he's saying, I'm going to see God's goodness in this life. Secondly he says, "Wait for the Lord." The word wait can be translated as hope... and hope is an amazing word. When we say, "I'm hoping for this or that..." in our way of talking it's really wishful thinking. We're going to the park tomorrow so we say, "I hope it doesn't rain." It's wishing for something that you have no idea about. Hope, however, in the biblical language isn't wishful thinking, rather, it's expectant waiting. So if we look at the passage again, a bit differently I think the Psalmist is saying... "I am waiting expectantly to see God's goodness in this life, and if I didn't believe I would see it I'd give up!"

This is not to say, in my view, that he completely expected rescuing from the current set of circumstances, but that God would meet him in the difficult place, in some way. We can't order God around as though somehow he is required to do our bidding. However, he is faithful to work and move in some way... we just have to watch. He still works in amazing ways!