David said: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart’ (v.13-14 NKJV). The word ‘wait’ originates from a Hebrew word used in making rope. Every rope starts as a thread, and every strand that's added increases its strength. So each time you wait on the Lord, you add another thread to your rope; you become a little stronger and a little more able to cope.

Are you hanging on by a thread? Spend more time with God and watch Him turn the thread into a rope. Waiting isn't always passive; sometimes it’s active, like waiting on a customer and seeing that their needs are met. In this case, waiting is more of a focus than a position. The Bible says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). Whether it’s sitting prayerfully in God’s presence or actively serving Him, you'll have the assurance that your strength will be renewed.

If you're feeling like you're at the end of your rope today, grab hold of and cling to these promises: ‘Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). ‘As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters…so our eyes look to the Lord our God’ (Psalm 123:2 NKJV).

What Now?

When you’re waiting for God to move or give you the next step, get some lengths of string, thread, or ribbon. Start with one length, then each time you pray or talk to Him about the situation, add a new piece and twist them together. Soon you’ll have a ‘rope’, a reminder of how God strengthens us in the waiting!