How to have patience while enduring trials and waiting for deliverance all while worshipping God rightly… sounds pretty tough.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and hear and will put their trust in the LORD.” – Psalm 40:1-3

I was running as hard as I could. It was 3:00 am, and the conditions were dark, cold, rainy, and muddy. It was a dark and stormy night. Maybe I should’ve led with that. But in the middle of this 100-mile race, I found myself fighting against the muddy bridle paths and creek beds that are so soft and wet that they suck the shoes right off of your feet. Poor conditions affect your ability to navigate the course. Sometimes it’s difficult to stand, let alone run. This particular race beat me down and challenged my resolve to finish. And it’s what I think of when I read Psalm 40.

How to Have Patience

Sometimes our waiting is over a physical problem, sometimes a spiritual one. But when those times come, it is so easy to become impatient when faced with our slimy pit. I found in my life that I did not want to wait for God. And in reality, sometimes impatience is what led to our situation in the first place.

It seems so in David’s case, for he says later in the passage, “For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.” It is also not that difficult to ignore God altogether; just fix our problems.

However, by relying on ourselves, we miss out on delivery and stay stuck in the mud. David waited and cried out; God turned to him and heard. How about it? Do you wait for God? Do you cry out to Him first?

Waiting for Deliverance

David’s patience paid off, and it can happen for us as well. We don’t have the specifics of David’s situation. David’s life was at stake many times, and he needed to be physically saved. In Psalm 40, as he had done before, God delivered him from disaster. Just picture God reaching down and wrangling David out of the slimy and gooey mud.

Not only did he save him from imminent danger, but he also repositioned him for survival. He gave him a standing and stability that would provide him safety. And, this enabled him to make better decisions and have continued success.

Worship God

David waited and cried. God delivered and stabilized. Then David sang, to God, to others, about his deliverance. But we so often forget that it was God who rescued us. David did not. He rejoiced in the deliverance of God. David didn’t keep it to himself. He sang and praised God so others could experience his deliverance AND trust God. David’s deliverance affected many people. You know, sometimes, that’s the point of our struggle; to help others find their way back to God.

Well, I did finish that race. I was tired, stinky, and muddy, but delivered. David was in his situation, and you can be, too. If you are trapped and struggling, cry out to God. Then wait. He will hear and deliver you. It may not be the solution that you want, but it will be the best one. So, how to have patience? Trust God.

Tom Nichols