Patiently
I probably watched the Laughing Gulls for at least an hour. The wind was howling, scorching the ground with flying granules that pelted like glass. Most beach-goers had left by this point. The birds were hungry and couldn’t fly up shore because of the resistance. They were studying a good place to land where the receding waters would expose a late ocean lunch on the beach.
Most of the gulls had resigned to flying high and waiting for things to die down. But not this fella. He was persistent. He let the wind keep him afloat for a while, then settled down on the beach right below him. Then, he waited. He waited for the tide to slowly inch its way up so that it would coax up the sand-creatures he and the others had desperately wanted to try—like a beach buffet he knew was worth the wait.
He was poised, stalwart, not rushing anything. He never chased the water, never tried to get closer. He just waited. And then, the tide reached the point he wanted. He stood ready and when the waves came in and the tide pulled them back, the holes in the sand appeared and he began to eat. When he had his fill, he “laughed” and called, over and over, skimming the shore to call the others, and they came. They were glad to hear his song.
A Laughing Gull waiting patiently
“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.” —Psalms 40:1-3 NIV
I have to admit, this has been one of my favorite psalms over the years, especially this particular selection. A praise band leader in my days as a youth used to sing the accompanying song to this psalm called “40” by the group U2. We heard it while we were on retreats, and it always captured my faith. The psalm is both prayer and narrative at the same time, revealing the importance of waiting and how the Lord honors it. The patience of the psalmist takes place in a muddy pit, and is exercised in a tough place. Then out of that place comes a firm footing. There’s cause for a song and rejoicing at that point.
When the Lord rescues us, it does something to us. There is a particular hopelessness that when overcome gives way to genuine praise. There’s a difference between general gratitude and great thanksgiving. One is a quick comment and acknowledgment; a nodding toward the generosity of another. The other is an on-going moment of service and serving. In the latter, you can hardly imagine not being thankful at any given moment.
This is the kind of praise that we talk about when we speak of the worship of God. It isn’t something that takes place only on Sunday, but rather is the constant thankfulness to God for His everlasting goodness. When you know the rescue of the Lord, you live thankful and people notice that; and that is the other half of the selection from the psalm. “Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him,” when they hear the new song in the mouth of the rescued; when they experience the praise we give to our God.
Like the Laughing Gull who’s patience rewarded him with food, and he called to the others, may we know the rescue of God and have a song of salvation in our mouths that let’s the world know of His salvation. God is good. Does the world know that because of you? Tell of your rescue. Sing your song. May others put their trust in Him, just as you have, because you waited patiently for the Lord.
—Pastor Whit
Read more inspirational messages regarding faith by checking out past Whitt’s End articles.