How to Wait on the Lord

Psalm 130

Scripture Reference

Psalm 130 (whole Psalm read as the basis for the sermon)

Introduction

Waiting is hard. We live in an age of instant-gratification where waiting feels like failure or delay. Yet the Christian life is frequently defined by seasons of waiting—times when God refines, redirects, and readies us for His purpose. Psalm 130 gives us an honest picture: a man in the depths crying out to the Lord, trusting God in the waiting, receiving cleansing from the Lord, and finding hope in the Lord’s redemption. As we study this Psalm, we will learn four practical truths about how to wait on the Lord that will help young adults (and all believers) grow in maturity and dependence upon Christ.

We don’t do it to have big bank accounts, all the different things that are there. We do it for the glory of God. Amen.

Quote from Preacher

This opening quote sets our heart toward proper motivation: ministry and Christian living are for God’s glory, not worldly gain. That attitude frames our waiting—God is the goal, not the blessing.

Outline

Cries Directed to the Lord
1. From the Depths
  The psalm begins, “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.” The psalmist models honest prayer—admitting desperation and directing that desperation to God. Many of us complain to people instead of praying to the One who answers. Learning to pray from the depths is a discipline: be honest before God, bring your pain, and speak to the One who can act.
2. To the Heights
  Even when we’re down, our prayers ascend to heaven: “Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” Recognize God’s position—He reigns on high and yet He hears the lowly cry. Trust that when you call, He listens. That truth gives courage to cry out rather than to grumble.
3. Practical Steps
  Replace venting with kneeling. Keep a short list of needs and pray them repeatedly. When temptation to gossip or complain arises, stop and pray instead. This trains your heart to direct cries upward.
Cleansing Received from the Lord
1. God Does Not Keep a Sin Tally
  “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” God does not count forgiven sins against us. When He saves, He forgives and by His grace chooses to forget our transgressions in the sense that we no longer stand condemned because of them.
2. Forgiveness Based on God’s Reputation
  “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” Forgiveness is rooted in who God is—merciful, just, and faithful. Our confidence to approach Him is not based on our goodness but upon His character and the finished work of Christ.
3. Fear (Reverence) Restores Relationship
  The “fear of the Lord” in Scripture means reverence—recognizing His presence and responding rightly. When forgiveness is received, the proper reverence produces changed conduct. Cleansing and reverence together rebuild fellowship so God can lead us forward.
Conduct: Waiting with the Word
1. Wait Personally and Practically
  “I wait for the Lord: my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Waiting is not passive. The psalmist waits personally—singular “I”—and actively engages God’s Word. Waiting includes obedience, worship, and Bible study as trust is formed.
2. Wait Scripturally
  Use Scripture to evaluate circumstances and expectations. Hope is anchored in revelation, not in feelings or rumors. The Word instructs us how to live while we wait and gives assurance that God’s timing is perfect.
3. Wait Steadfastly
  “My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.” Waiting should be vigilant and expectant. Like a watchman who watches all night for the dawn, we must be alert, persistent in prayer, and ready to act when God moves.
4. Practical Steps
  Commit to daily Scripture reading focused on God’s promises about the situation you’re facing. Keep a waiting journal: record prayers, perceived answers, Bible verses, and steps of obedience. That journal becomes proof of God’s faithfulness and trains patience.
Confidence: Hoping in the Lord
1. Hope Is a Choice
  “Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.” Hope here is a deliberate trust—one we place in God’s mercy and abundance of redemption. It is not wishful thinking but confidence grounded in God’s character.
2. Mercy, Redemption, and Full Restoration
  God’s answers bring mercy and redemption that cover “all his iniquities.” The scope of God’s redeeming work is complete; no failure is outside of His redeeming reach.
3. Three Answers and Our Response
  Every prayer will receive one of three answers: Yes, No, or Wait. We should accept all three with faith—rejoicing in yeses, trusting God’s wisdom in no’s, and practicing patience and obedience in waits.
4. Practical Steps
  When God answers “Wait”: continue serving faithfully and trust the timing. When He answers “No”: seek what God might be protecting you from. When He answers “Yes”: give God praise and steward the blessing well.

Summary

To wait on the Lord is to take four biblical actions: direct your cries to the Lord, receive cleansing from the Lord, conduct your life in patient waiting rooted in God’s Word, and confidently hope in the Lord’s mercy and redemption. Waiting is not idle; it is active trust—prayerful, scriptural, expectant obedience. God may allow you to go to the depths so that you will look up; He hears you from His throne and comes to cleanse, shape, and redeem. The waiting season is a crafting season where God builds patience, faith, and Christ-likeness in you for His glory.

There are three answers God will give you to every prayer. One of three answers. He’ll either say yes or he’ll say no, or he’ll say wait.

Quote to Ponder

This succinct quote from the sermon gives a practical framework to understand God’s responses and helps us accept His timing. When God says wait, the faithful response is patient trust and active obedience.

Application for the Week

Concrete steps to practice waiting on the Lord in the coming week:

Pray First, Complain Less
Before telling friends or venting on social media, pause and pray. Make a short prayer list and commit to bringing each need to God daily for a week.
Daily Scripture for the Wait
Choose one Psalm or several short passages (for example Psalm 23, Psalm 27, Psalm 130, or Romans 8) and read them each morning. Write one verse that encourages you and memorize it.
Keep a Waiting Journal
Record specific prayers, any signs of God’s provision, scriptures you read, and steps you obeyed. At week’s end, review the journal to see God’s work and to build faith for future waits.
Engage in Faithful Service
While waiting, serve. Volunteer for a church ministry this week, witness to one person, or help someone in need. Waiting is not inactivity; it is active trust.
Practice Reverent Awareness
Each time you are tempted to sin or to compromise because of impatience, stop and ask, “Is the Holy Spirit present with me now?” Let that awareness lead you to repentance or to resisting temptation.
Expect and Watch
Be vigilant for God’s answer. If you asked God for an opportunity to witness, ask Him to open your eyes to people He places in your path. When opportunity appears, act—don’t let the answer pass unnoticed.
Respond to God’s Answer
If God says “Yes”—give immediate praise and steward the blessing. If “No”—ask God what He wants to do instead and trust His wisdom. If “Wait”—redouble prayer, Word intake, and faithful service.

May the Lord strengthen you to wait with faith—crying out from the depths, receiving cleansing by grace, conducting your life by Scripture, and hoping confidently in the Lord.