I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14, ESV)
In the pre-dawn hours of the second round at the 2024 PGA Championship, Scottie Scheffler found himself handcuffed and escorted away to a jail cell.
Scheffler admitted to a CNN reporter, “I was pretty rattled, to say the least,” Scheffler said. “I was shaking for like an hour.”
I don’t know how Scottie asked for God’s help in that jail cell, but in my times of distress, I often turn to Psalm 27 as an anchor.
Psalm 27, a psalm attributed to King David, encourages our faith in the Lord’s protection, guidance, and salvation during times of adversity.
The opening lines characterize the LORD as a light, a salvation, and a stronghold. David’s response is he will not fear or be afraid, but do we really believe God is enough in times of trouble today? In what way(s) do you lean into God’s character when you are afraid?
When David’s enemies sought to harm him, he believed they would stumble and fall (verse 2). He determined that his heart would not fear, and he would be confident (verse 3). How do you find your confidence in the Lord?
David shifts the tone of his song in verse four by expressing that his greatest desire is to dwell in the house of the Lord, to gaze upon His beauty, and to meditate in his presence.
I am challenged by David’s words. Do I really seek after the Lord with all my heart? I too often get side-swiped by my circumstances and turn to my own strength.
Like David, we can pray and ask God, “Do not hide your face from me (verse 9).” Do you believe God hears, is gracious, and answers your pleas for help?
The psalm concludes with a powerful message of hope and perseverance in verse fourteen. David realized seeing the goodness of the LORD comes when he learned to wait on him. It is in the waiting when our hearts grow in strength and courage.
Trusting and waiting on the Lord is not passive. David developed a mindset that required the daily practice of meditating on God’s character, preparing his heart to be ready for adversity, seeking God’s presence, asking God for help, and remaining steadfast in God’s protection.
As you read through Psalm 27 today, may your heart be encouraged to meditate on God’s protection, guidance, and eternal salvation.
Prayer: Lord, help me to practice a mindset of waiting that seeks your face, your beauty, and your protection no matter what troubles and hardships I encounter.