The Secret to Courage in Delayed Seasons Wait on the Lord—three words that are easy to say but hard to live. When answers seem distant and change feels impossible, Psalm 27:14 reminds us that waiting is not weakness—it’s a weapon of spiritual strength and courage. Scripture Reading “Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.”— Psalm 27:14 (NIV) 1. Wait on the Lord with Strength The Psalmist doesn’t just say wait—he says to wait with strength. The Hebrew word for “wait” (qavah) carries the sense of expectation, like a rope being stretched but not broken. - Not passive waiting – It’s active, hopeful, trusting - Not weak delay – It’s choosing strength over panic - Not giving up – It’s digging in deeper (Isaiah 40:31) To wait on the Lord means you choose to trust God’s timing over your timeline. 2. Wait on the Lord with Courage “Be strong and take heart…” David had enemies surrounding him, fear pressing in, and battles all around—but instead of rushing to fix everything, he leaned into courageous waiting. Why? Because courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear—it means choosing faith in the middle of it. The courage to wait is rooted in: - God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 27:1-3) - God’s present nearness (Psalm 34:18) - God’s future victory (Romans 8:28) 3. Why Wait on the Lord? You can wait on people and be disappointed. You can wait on circumstances and stay frustrated. But when you wait on the Lord, you wait on the One who is: - All-knowing – His timing is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3:11) - All-powerful – He can move mountains (Mark 11:23) - Always good – He works for your good (Romans 8:28) Psalm 130:5 says, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.” That kind of waiting reshapes your heart. Practicing the Art of Waiting When impatience rises: - Pause and Pray – Invite God into your restless thoughts - Remember His Promises – Write down key Scriptures to declare - Reflect on His Goodness – Rehearse your testimony - Worship While You Wait – Let praise replace pressure

When the Wait Is the Work “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”— Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV) The Tension Between Promise and Process One of the hardest truths to accept in life is that God’s timing rarely matches ours. We pray, plan, and pursue, expecting results on our schedule. But heaven doesn’t move on human deadlines. God’s timing has its own rhythm—one that is often slower, quieter, and more purposeful than we realize. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God makes everything beautiful in His time, not ours. His timing is not random; it’s redemptive. It reshapes impatience into perseverance and frustration into faith. We often want the finished picture while God is still painting the strokes. He’s weaving details we can’t see, preparing blessings we can’t yet carry. What seed has God asked you to plant that still hasn’t produced fruit? How can you remain faithful in the waiting?

When tragedy strikes, our first reaction is often anger. We look at the person responsible and our hearts burn with grief, outrage, and even hatred. That response is human. But as followers of Christ, we are called to walk a different road—one that feels almost impossible without His strength. Jesus’ words ring loudly in moments like this: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). It is not natural. It is not easy. But it is the way of the cross. As the initial fire of anger begins to fade, I am reminded of the greater truth: holding on to bitterness only chains us to the pain. Forgiveness, however, does not excuse evil—it releases us from being consumed by it. We may never understand the motives of those who commit such acts, but we can choose not to let hatred be the final word. Praying for our enemies doesn’t mean we agree with what they’ve done. It means we hand the gavel over to the only Just Judge—God Himself. It means we trust Him with justice, while we pursue peace in our hearts. Forgiveness is not weakness. It is strength rooted in Christ. It is how darkness loses its grip. So today, let us grieve, let us mourn, but let us also take the bold step of obedience—praying for our enemies and choosing forgiveness, so that the love of Christ shines brighter than hate.

Have you ever felt like you’re pouring your heart into something good, but the results just aren’t showing up? Maybe you’ve prayed for years without seeing change, served faithfully without anyone noticing, or tried to live right while watching others cut corners and succeed. That’s when Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 hit home: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV) Paul knew how exhausting it can be to keep walking in faith when the harvest feels invisible. When Weariness Creeps In The original word for “weary” literally means to lose heart, to faint, or even to abandon your post. Isn’t that exactly how it feels sometimes? The triggers are familiar: - Planting but not seeing growth - Giving without getting thanks - Doing right while others seem to prosper doing wrong It’s tempting to think, “Why bother?” But notice Paul doesn’t tell us to strive harder or please everyone. “Doing good” isn’t about perfectionism, people-pleasing, or burning out. It’s about simple, Spirit-led faithfulness: - Showing up in the small, everyday obedience - Loving people who are hard to love - Choosing integrity when nobody is watching That’s the kind of “good” that pleases God. Here’s the hope: God guarantees a harvest. - The timing: it will be at the proper time - The outcome: we will reap - The condition: if we don’t give up Think about the parallels: - A parent praying for their child year after year - An employee standing for what’s right in a tough workplace - A believer quietly living as a light among their friends None of that is wasted. How to Keep Going Without Burning Out - Redefine success: measure faithfulness, not visible outcomes. Celebrate even the small steps. - Rest well: build Sabbath rhythms into your life. Let Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–30 set your pace. - Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness: journal, post verses where you’ll see them, revisit answered prayers. - Find community: we’re called to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Don’t run this race alone.