Psalm 25:1-10

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Unashamed of God’s Timing  

“Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame.” Psalm 25:3

Waiting on God’s timing is hard. Sometimes, we even wonder if He’ll answer our prayers at all. Yet Psalm 25 tells us that those who wait on the Lord are never put to shame. We don’t need to be embarrassed or feel disgraced for waiting on God’s timing, regardless of the pressures we feel to have something now. God’s timing is perfect, and His gifts to us are always good.

It’s easy to think we’re missing out when we don’t see God providing what we desire when we think we should have it. We compare what we have been given with what others have and begin to desire their blessings instead of being grateful for our own. We might even take matters into our own hands to force the outcome we think we want instead of waiting on God’s direction.

While waiting on God’s timing is hard, it’s also worth it. The psalmist says all of God’s ways are steadfast, love, and faithfulness (v.10). Those are things I want (and need) in my life. We pray with the author King David, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths” (v.4). Teach us, God!

As we seek to learn His ways, notice what the psalm doesn’t say. It doesn’t say all of God’s ways include next-day shipping, instant downloads, or on-demand earthly pleasures. Being steadfast and faithful often require the qualities opposite of instant gratification. It requires endurance, patience, and time for growth to occur. Somehow, this necessary waiting and lack of immediate provision are tied to God’s definition of perfect love.

At just the right time, God enacted His plan to give us what we need most—forgiveness of sins and access to eternal life with Him. He could have snapped His fingers or spoken a word to will this gift into existence. Instead, He chose to make a promise to a people and walk with them for hundreds of years, revealing who He was and how He provides.

Then, at just the right time, He sent His Son. Not as a man ready to take over the world but first, as a baby, born of a virgin, who would grow into a boy, and then a man. At just the right time in his public ministry, Jesus was handed over to the officials to endure the punishment of the whole world’s sin. In God’s orchestrated timing, Jesus rose from the dead (although the disciples may have thought it was about 3 days late!).

During this season of Pentecost, we see at just the right time, God sends the Holy Spirit to the disciples to be their helper as they’re sent out to preach the Gospel throughout the land. Time and time again, God shows His love to us carried out in His timing. Yes, “none who wait for the Lord will be put to shame.”

What about you? What are you waiting on God to provide in your life? What request do you think He’s “overdue” on granting? What would it look like to change your prayers from demanding it happen now to asking God to teach you more about His steadfast, faithful, loving ways?

Discussion question: Have you ever tried to force an outcome instead of waiting on God to provide? How did that go? What do you think you missed out on by forcing the timing?

Prayer: God, Your ways are not my ways, nor is Your timing, mine. Forgive me for wanting to rush Your timing for me. Thank You for all the ways you show me Your love, including through Your grace and mercy. Thanks for being patient with me even when I get impatient with You. Teach me to walk in Your ways and to learn steadfastness, faithfulness, and love. Amen.

Challenge activity: For one week, only talk to God by thanking Him for what He’s given you. Do not ask for anything new. At the end of the week, reflect on how this affected your prayers, your heart, and your interactions with others.