The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.(Psalm 145:14)

It is specially at the time of prayer that we ought to set ourselves to cultivate a spirit of quiet waiting.

Before you pray, bow quietly before God, just to remember and realize who He is, how near He is, how certainly He can and will help. Just be still before Him, and allow His Holy Spirit to waken and stir up in your soul the childlike disposition of absolute dependence and confident expectation. Wait upon God as a Living Being, as the Living God, who notices you, and is just longing to fill you with a His salvation. Wait on God till you know you have met Him; prayer will then become so different.

And when you are praying, let there be intervals of silence, reverent stillness of soul, in which you yield yourself to God, in case He may have anything He wishes to teach you or work in you. Waiting on Him will become the most blessed part of prayer, and the blessing thus obtained will be doubly precious as the fruit of such fellowship with the Holy One. God has so ordained it, in harmony with His holy nature, and with ours, that waiting on Him should be the honor we give Him. Let us bring Him the service gladly and truthfully; He will reward it abundantly.

“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou gives them their meat in due season(Psalm 145:15) Dear soul, God provides in Nature for the creatures He has made; how much more will He provide in Grace for those He has redeemed. Learn to say of every want, and every failure, and every lack of needful grace; I have waited too little upon God, or He would have given me in due season all I needed. And say then too, “ My soul, wait thou only upon God”. (Psalm 62:5)

Andrew Murray

full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous:

earnestly desirous

attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness:

Certainly these times are cause for anxiety. We confess that all that’s happening and all that we anticipate will happen give reason for concern. The normal human reaction to uncontrollable events can cause us to be anxious.

I think it’s fair to say that a lot of what we’re seeing from humans right now is a response to fear and anxiety. As I listen to conversations I hear the underlying current of nervous anxiety. Questions concerning another wave of the virus, the impact on the economy, the social turmoil between and among families and neighbors, and all the unresolved issues that seem to be surfacing and escalating. When you add these things to the normal challenges of life it’s easy to become anxious and stressed.

Our hope and help comes only as we wait on God. As most of us know often it’s the waiting that amplifies the anxiety. I want to give you the words of Jesus.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:4-7,22-32

The Apostle Paul says:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

Finally hear the words of Apostle Peter;

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

I end with the words to an old song:

I know the Lord will make a way for me

I know the Lord will make a way somehow

If I live a holy life, shun the wrong and do what’s right

I know the Lord will make a way for me.

Let us put our trust in God and wait for His working for our good.

Dr. John Thompson