WAITING ON GOD

The "Nevers" of Life

Never.

It’s the word that can stir the deepest fear in the bravest heart. 

“I’ll never find a job.”

“This will never get better.”

“I’ll never get married.”

“I’ll never have the child I long for.”

“He’ll never come home to me.”

It’s the lie that originates with our sinful nature, and it insists on putting a decisive end to all of our
hopes. Don’t bother to dream, it whispers cruelly. You don’t deserve it. Stop wishing for what can never
be.

And so we continue to drive the nails into the coffin of our dearest longings.

“The Lord will never answer my prayers.”

But this is the challenge of waiting on God. It’s the ability to keep hoping when the Nevers of life
bombard us—when the minutes, hours, days, and years tick away without any answers to our most
passionate pleas at the throne of grace. It’s the faith to hang on to the Father on the long road when
human reason tells us to give up.

If the Nevers of life are discouraging you, if you’ve waited for the Lord to fulfill His promises to you, if you
wonder why God has allowed such a lengthy delay in answering the deepest cries of your heart—if that’s
where you are, friend—then this is the right reading plan for you. If you look, you’ll find meaning and
hope in these times of waiting on the Lord to respond. Though you don’t see Him working, you can know
for certain that He is because He guarantees that He “acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him” (Isa.
64:4).  

Not only that, but the Father has an awesome plan for you—purposes that are fantastic, perfectly suited
for you, and that will give ultimate meaning to your life. However, God also has a very specific schedule
—one that’s often vastly different from what you’d expect, may have you wait far beyond what makes
you comfortable, and most likely will make you feel that all earthly hope is gone so that you’ll rely solely
upon Him (2 Cor. 1:9).

What I intend to show you throughout the devotions that follow is that the only “never” you should
focus on is that God will never let you down (Deut. 31:6, 8). So whatever it is you yearn for—no matter
how long you have to wait—you can trust the Father to lead you. And you can know for absolute certain
that He has your very best interest in mind.
How Long, O Lord?

No one likes delays. And nothing diminishes the pain we feel as the days pass and we continue to
struggle with our hopes and fears. Whether it’s the hours that throw off our plans, the days and weeks
that cause uncertainty, or the years we spend wondering if God will ever fulfill His promises to us, it’s
human to feel frustrated, anxious, and as if our hopes are dying within us.

Why? Because we lack control over our circumstances. Someone else seems to be impeding our progress
—deciding how the scant moments we’ve been given in this life will be spent and preventing us from
enjoying the one thing we think will truly make us happy.

Like David, we cry out, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Ps.13:1).

I don’t know what it is you’re hoping for, but I do know that you’ve subscribed to this reading plan for a
reason. I also know firsthand that waiting on God is one of the most difficult lessons to learn. I imagine
that, like David, there’s a lot of pain in your heart as you wait. Perhaps you fear the Lord’s forgotten you.
Maybe you can’t help but wonder, Why not me? What makes me so unworthy? Friend, though I know it
hurts more deeply than words can express, please be assured that there’s always hope with our
heavenly Father. As you go through your season of waiting, you must always remember that …

 The Lord isn’t neglecting you and hasn’t forgotten you. He’s working in the unseen on your
behalf (Isa. 64:4)—every single moment. Your responsibility is to set your heart on Him and trust
that your life is safe in His all-powerful and loving hands.

 You aren’t just waiting around, doing nothing. As you anticipate the Father’s instruction and
intervention, continue serving Him as you carry out your daily business. Keep seeking, obeying,
and having intimate fellowship with Him—even when circumstances don’t seem to be going
your way. 

 You’re not missing worthwhile opportunities.  It may seem as if you are. But if God says “No” or
“Wait” about some possibility before you, trust Him. Don’t try to make it happen. Rather, count
on His faultless wisdom to protect you from choices that would ultimately harm you.

 You’re not alone. Everyone you know is facing a delay in some area or another. Yes, you may look
around and see people enjoying the blessings you desire. You may think you’re the only one
struggling with your particular issue—the only one the Father hasn’t provided for. But realize
those thoughts of humiliation and defeat come from your enemy, who’s always trying to isolate
and destroy you (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

In every nation, there are people just like you, waiting for similar blessings and experiencing the same
feelings. In fact, throughout Scripture, there’s not a man or woman whom God used in a powerful way
who didn’t first face a long and difficult time of waiting. So don’t despair ... take it as the Father’s special
favor and guidance in your life.
“Lord, teach us to number our days.” That is the prayer of the Psalmist (90:12) who in difficult times
exhorts the pursuit of wisdom and perspective, which involves honest reflections about life and its
currently harsh circumstances, and also pleads for the Lord his God to rescue him and his people.

I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to work at a place like HBU, with colleagues who take seriously
the calling we have to serve Christ through higher education. I’ve seen many examples of that in recent
days and even today have heard several more heartwarming stories of commitment to our students. In
gratitude to all of you, I offer these words of encouragement.

All of us are troubled by the circumstances around us and, as the Psalmist reminds us, we too need
perspective. The pressure of unusual circumstances, sudden changes in our daily routines, and the
necessity of developing new skills—all these things require reflection and the faithful (re)alignment of
our thinking and work toward both the realities around us and the purposes of the God we serve.

Facing Fears about Health

To gain a wise perspective, we have to face our fears. Fears can be healthy or exaggerated—and
sometimes paralyzing. It takes wisdom to admit that there are dangers around us that need to be
properly, and fearfully, respected, and it takes wisdom to see through the exaggerations and fear-
mongering of those who use the pains of others for their benefit.

The leaders of HBU (including especially the president) will not have all the answers we could hope for,
nor will we fully anticipate all that’s going to happen in the coming days. We will make mistakes. But we
are working earnestly, and we ask for your prayers. Circumstances change dramatically from day to day,
so we must act based upon the best information we have. Indeed, all of us must accept the
responsibilities we have in our given spheres of influence (home, work, church, community) where we
are called upon to serve and to lead. We must seek wisdom and make the very best decisions we can as
we all endeavor to act generously and selflessly, in ways consistent with all that we believe as followers
of Christ, on behalf of others.

And we need to admit to certain specific fears—fears that relate to life and death. The virus that plagues
the world is real. For many people it is life-threatening today, and for all of us it is a life-threatening
prospect. No matter the motives of those who may exaggerate, we are better off by planning for things
to get worse than being caught unprepared. We can always be thankful that the worst has been averted,
but we will be worse off if we haven’t done our best to think through as many contingencies as possible,
and thereby be prepared to face the risks.

All of us know there are basic health practices we must seriously follow, not only for ourselves but on
behalf of others. People who are not in high-risk groups should not only set a good example for others,
but be willing to share the burdens that others feel. Apparently healthy people, those with no symptoms
and no awareness of having the disease, can nonetheless carry it to others. We owe it to one another to
pay attention to each other, to advise one another, to check on one another, and serve one another. It’s
what we believe and confess as Christians, and these days test us to live out our faith.

Facing Fears about Finances

There’s also a legitimate financial fear that goes with this crisis. It has already begun to produce financial
havoc that has not only hit the stock markets but will have an impact on the underlying economy for
months and months to come. We can be thankful that we’ve had a strong underlying economy, but it’s
certainly going to suffer some shockwaves. The price of oil recently dipped below $30 per barrel, and
Houston still is an energy city. We will feel the effect of that at HBU (perhaps in terms of donors and
student numbers) as it ripples through the Houston economy.

We must be prepared to face up to these financial issues. First, we need to be alert to the needs of one
another and be willing to share our resources. HBU as an institution will no doubt feel the negative
effects for a significant amount of time, but we are committed to doing all we can for the health and
other needs of students, staff, and faculty. We are committed to doing that first.

We will also work hard to be good stewards of the University, to protect its overall health and mission.
We are committed to do that for the sake of all those who depend upon HBU now, for those like our
alumni who rely upon us personally and professionally as their University, for our donors and friends
who have invested so much time and treasure with us, and comprehensively, for HBU’s mission and
everything we stand for in the world of higher education.

We can’t possibly know how significant this financial impact will be or how long it will last, but we are
preparing for it, and we call upon ourselves to be good stewards and our friends to help us and pray for
us as we do our best also to serve others in these days.

Facing Fears about Safety

Health fears and financial fears bring with them fears for safety. We have to protect our loved ones, our
children, our parents, the elderly, and all those who fall within the orbit of our love and care. That’s true
of every individual and family member among us, and it’s a mandate that all of us at the University feel
as well for one another and for our students. We must be alert to the safety needs of those around us.

Fear can promote faith, but there are times when it challenges faith. Numerous places in Scripture set
fear against faith, love, and trust, so we must frankly admit that the fears we’ve talked about above must
(rightly) push us to examine our faith. This is God’s world. It is deeply flawed and broken, but it is still His
good creation (Psalm 24). He has provided for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ, and He has
promised—and we know it is true—that through Christ we find forgiveness, peace, and joy; that one day
the curse over this broken world will be lifted at the final return of Christ; and that God will raise the
dead in Christ and create a new heaven and new earth, where there is no more mourning or crying or
pain (Revelation 21:1-4).

People of Hope

We must face these days of fear and testing—not passively accept them or capitulate to them. These can
and should be days of renewed worship, rededicated service, care, friendship, work, and love. We must
be alert to the stranger among us, and we must love one another and be kind to one another as God in
Christ has been merciful to us (Ephesians 4:32-5:2).

To follow Christ is to be a people of hope. And our hope is not in vain, because it is invested in the
creator God of the universe, who has extended Himself lavishly on behalf of His children. He is worthy of
our trust, and He can aid us in conquering our fears. “Be of good cheer,” our Lord said, just before his
own horrific death on our behalf, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

One of my great privileges every day is praying for all of you.

SCRIPTURES ON WAITING

Lamentations 3:25 ESV / 265 helpful votes 

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Psalm 27:14 ESV / 226 helpful votes 

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Habakkuk 2:3 ESV / 211 helpful votes 

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait
for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV / 207 helpful votes 

But they who wait for 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.

Psalm 37:7 ESV / 160 helpful votes 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

Psalm 130:5-6 ESV / 144 helpful votes 

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than
watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Micah 7:7 ESV / 123 helpful votes 

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Isaiah 30:18 ESV / 118 helpful votes 

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For
the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Psalm 39:7 ESV / 110 helpful votes 

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

Psalm 62:5 ESV / 88 helpful votes 

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 33:20 ESV / 69 helpful votes 

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Isaiah 33:2 ESV / 65 helpful votes 

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of
trouble.
Psalm 25:5 ESV / 62 helpful votes 

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Romans 5:1-21 ESV / 61 helpful votes 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in
hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces
endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us
to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us. ...

James 5:7 ESV / 57 helpful votes 

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious
fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

Psalm 130:5 ESV / 57 helpful votes 

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

Psalm 52:9 ESV / 54 helpful votes 

I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the
presence of the godly.

Psalm 40:1 ESV / 54 helpful votes 

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

Isaiah 64:4 ESV / 50 helpful votes 

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for
those who wait for him.

Hosea 12:6 ESV / 49 helpful votes 

“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

Psalm 59:9 ESV / 48 helpful votes 

O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 43 helpful votes 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Lamentations 3:26 ESV / 42 helpful votes 

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Proverbs 20:22 ESV / 42 helpful votes 

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Isaiah 8:17 ESV / 40 helpful votes 

I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

Galatians 5:5 ESV / 39 helpful votes 

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Psalm 25:21 ESV / 39 helpful votes 

May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

Psalm 37:9 ESV / 37 helpful votes 

For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Luke 12:36 ESV / 36 helpful votes 

And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they
may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

Psalm 62:1 ESV / 36 helpful votes 

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.

Titus 2:13 ESV / 34 helpful votes 

Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Zephaniah 3:8 ESV / 33 helpful votes 

“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision
is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger;
for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.

Isaiah 25:9 ESV / 33 helpful votes 

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is
the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Isaiah 49:23 ESV / 32 helpful votes 

Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground
they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those
who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

Psalm 145:15 ESV / 32 helpful votes 

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

Psalm 62:2 ESV / 32 helpful votes 

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 31 helpful votes 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

1 Corinthians 1:7 ESV / 29 helpful votes 

So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Psalm 37:34 ESV / 28 helpful votes 

Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the
wicked are cut off.

Psalm 25:3 ESV / 28 helpful votes 

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly
treacherous.

Genesis 49:18 ESV / 28 helpful votes 

I wait for your salvation, O Lord.

Romans 12:12 ESV / 27 helpful votes 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Acts 1:4 ESV / 26 helpful votes 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise
of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;

Luke 2:25 ESV / 26 helpful votes 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV / 25 helpful votes 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt
you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 23 helpful votes 

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing
that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV / 23 helpful votes 

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light
the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will
receive his commendation from God.

Romans 8:25 ESV / 23 helpful votes 

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Psalm 69:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes 

I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

James 5:7-8 ESV / 21 helpful votes 

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious
fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Daniel 12:12 ESV / 21 helpful votes 

Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.

Isaiah 26:8 ESV / 21 helpful votes 

In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of
our soul.

Psalm 130:6 ESV / 21 helpful votes 

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 59:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes 

My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

Philippians 3:20 ESV / 20 helpful votes 

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV / 20 helpful votes 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

Jeremiah 14:22 ESV / 20 helpful votes 

Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.

Psalm 123:2 ESV / 20 helpful votes 

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the
hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.

Psalm 145:16 ESV / 19 helpful votes 

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Colossians 1:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes 

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience
with joy,
Mark 15:43 ESV / 18 helpful votes 

Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom
of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Isaiah 1:1-31 ESV / 18 helpful votes 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for
the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox
knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not
understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal
corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly
estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint. ...

2 Peter 3:8 ESV / 17 helpful votes 

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day.

James 5:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes 

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job,
and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

James 1:12 ESV / 17 helpful votes 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the
crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Psalm 62:1-2 ESV / 17 helpful votes 

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly
shaken.

Lamentations 3:25-26 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait
quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:9 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their
silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he
has made you beautiful.

Psalm 104:27 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.

Psalm 37:7-9 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it
tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Psalm 32:8 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the
wrath to come.

Habakkuk 2:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will
say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

Psalm 46:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 106:13 ESV / 13 helpful votes 

But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

Psalm 25:4-5 ESV / 13 helpful votes 

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you
are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Job 14:13 ESV / 13 helpful votes 

Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would
appoint me a set time, and remember me!

James 2:24 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the
sexually immoral and adulterous.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark
for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the
righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Thessalonians 4:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
Ephesians 4:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Romans 10:9 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 5:3-4 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance
produces character, and character produces hope,

Acts 2:38 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 59:1-9 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his
house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up
against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they
lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for
no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! You, Lord God of hosts,
are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot
evil. Selah ...

Psalm 33:20-22 ESV / 12 helpful votes 

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust
in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 ESV / 11 helpful votes 

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Isaiah 51:5 ESV / 11 helpful votes 

My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the
coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait.

Psalm 27:13-14 ESV / 11 helpful votes 

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be
strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Ruth 3:1-18 ESV / 11 helpful votes 

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be
well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley
tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to
the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and
he will tell you what to do.” And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” ...

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Romans 6:23 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 14:3 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you
may be also.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 9 helpful votes 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called
according to his purpose.

John 5:28 ESV / 9 helpful votes 

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

Psalm 104:28 ESV / 9 helpful votes 

When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

Psalm 34:15 ESV / 9 helpful votes 

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

John 1:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.