Psalm 38: ¹¹ My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off. ¹² Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long. ¹³ But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak. ¹⁴ Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort. ¹⁵ But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. 

This morning I’ll share with you a reflection written by a dear pastor friend of mine. I don’t think I can say it better. “The Psalmist is in distress, with friends far away and enemies near. But he recognizes his own illusion of agency (vs. 13-14), he is like the idols (see Psalm 135:16-18). Instead he waits for God. This practice of waiting is the invitation of the Sabbath, to lay aside our own sense that it is all up to us, to be mercifully stripped of the illusion that we were ever in charge of creating, protecting, providing or any of the rest. It is an invitation to wait, to let God be God.” (Pr. Louise Johnson)

Gracious God, teach us to wait upon you, trusting you will act in your own time. Amen.