I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 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 fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. – Psalm 40:1-5

You’ve heard the phrase, “Good things come to those who wait,” but is that entirely true?  On one side, the idea of being patient and not rushing into a decision is a good thing.  Many people struggle with this idea.  We develop an idea of what we would like to have, but then we jump straight to receiving it without taking the steps needed to prepare ourselves for it.  Many ten year old boys dream of playing in the NFL, but unless they dedicate themselves to the hours upon hours of work necessary to accomplish it, they will not only be unsuccessful on football field, but also in danger of being badly hurt.  So taking our time and being deliberate in our decision making is important, but we’re not finished here.  There is more to the process than simply taking our time.  We must not only think carefully, but also faithfully.

People can learn how to take their time and make a fully informed decision, but in the life of a Christian there is another step; seeking the will of God.  We may look at a situation – a job offer, investment decision, relationship option, or some other opportunity to get something that we want, – and everything looks good.  But the world’s eyes simply don’t offer the clarity of the big picture that only comes from God.  He knows everything that there is to know about us, our lives, and the path that He has laid out before us.  He even knows what we’re going to choose before our choice is made.  His plan is far better for us than anything we might ever devise, but are we diligently listening to Him leading us?  Are we asking Him what we should be doing and when?  Are we effectively connecting ourselves into the principles that God has given us so that we may also connect in God’s abundance?  These questions, and the process by which we discover their answers, are the major elements that we as Christians must focus upon in every decision that we make.

Psalm 40 gives us a valuable set of advice:  Don’t view God through the eyes of the world.  Instead, view the world through the eyes of God.  Tap into the strength and certainty that comes from God and God alone.