[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
written by\u00a0Jonathan Waggett,\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Worship Pastor<\/em> (February 28, 2023)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/coatsbaptist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IWillWaitForYou.png” title_text=”I+Will+Wait+For+You” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body” _builder_version=”4.18.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord<\/span>!<\/span><\/span><\/em> If you, O Lord<\/span>, should mark iniquities,<\/span><\/em> I wait for the Lord<\/span>, my soul waits,<\/span><\/em> O Israel, hope in the Lord<\/span>!<\/span><\/em> <\/p>\n – Psalm 130:1-8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n This past Sunday, the worship choir introduced the the modern hymn, I Will Wait for You. This cry to the Lord was written by the Getty’s and Stuart Townend (In Christ Alone). Hear the story behind the song from co-writer, Stuart Townend:<\/span><\/p>\n ‘I Will Wait for You’ is based on Psalm 130, one of the great Psalms of distress and longing for God\u2019s intervention in our lives. A significant number of the Psalms articulate the tension of knowing that God is faithful and caring towards us, and yet we often experience great pain and adverse circumstances that would seem to suggest otherwise. The cry of the Psalm and of this song is a response to this tension: of being willing to trust, to wait on Him, to live with the pain with our eyes still fixed on him, knowing that He will never leave or forsake us. It is a powerful thing to look to God with trust and patience through the hard times we will all face at some point in our lives. I pray that this song will be a comfort and a faith-builder for those who find themselves in difficult and dark places.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I echo his prayer. May the songs we sing provide truth, comfort, and encourage believers in the faith as we sing them together and on our own.<\/span><\/p>\n Waiting is difficult. Patience just doesn’t come naturally, especially during difficult seasons of life. Even the most mature believers would admit that, apart from Christ, waiting is simply not enjoyable or desired. But it’s where we often find ourselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So how do you wait? Do we wait with expectancy and hope or do you wait with feelings of hopelessness and despair? Does your waiting exhibit great truth and faith in our trustworthy and faithful God? Or does your waiting signify that your belief in God is shallow and lacking?<\/span><\/p>\n My challenge to you is to increase your time in communion with the Lord – in a variety of ways.<\/span><\/p>\n Spend intentional time in prayer<\/span>. This should not be limited to just talking. Listen in silence. Mediate on His Word. Cry before Him. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Study His Word.<\/span> Have a plan. Stick to it. And dive deeper into His Word than you ever have before. Read, then re-read. Journal. Reflect. Seek to know Him more and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Sing to Him.<\/span> I hope you sing to the Lord more than one or two hours a week (on Sundays). He is worthy of our praise each and every day and he desires to hear you sing. It’s not about your voice. It’s about making much of Him with your whole being.<\/span><\/p>\n Shout for joy.<\/span>\u00a0Literally. We all get riled up when our team scores during a game. Do the same when you see God at work or when you’re just reminded of His goodness. Remember, He is worthy and deserving of all praise!<\/span><\/p>\n Submit your plans to Him.<\/span> When you go about your day, how often do you seek God and ask Him to direct you? When you make plans, ask God to go before you and establish your steps. And be ready to yield your plans to the Lord when they don’t align with His greater plans for your life.<\/span><\/p>\n I pray that your seasons of waiting bring you into closer relationship with the Lord and that as the lost world watches you wait, they see a trustworthy and good God on full display.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
O Lord, hear my voice!<\/span><\/span><\/em>
Let your ears be attentive<\/span><\/em>
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n
O Lord, who could stand?<\/span><\/span><\/em>
But with you there is forgiveness,<\/span><\/em>
that you may be feared.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
and in his word I hope;<\/span><\/span><\/em>
my soul waits for the Lord<\/span><\/em>
more than watchmen for the morning,<\/span><\/span><\/em>
more than watchmen for the morning.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
For with the Lord<\/span> there is steadfast love,<\/span><\/span><\/em>
and with him is plentiful redemption.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
And he will redeem Israel<\/span><\/em>
from all his iniquities.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n