Wandering or Waiting? // Psalm 130:5

I share a lot about how our family is livin’ la vida Mille…dealing with our lovingly wild one-year-old golden retriever. She is a velcro pup who never wants to leave my side; so, whenever I go out to walk our older dog, take out the trash, or get the mail, Millie pushes aside a curtain and watches me. It’s equal parts sweet and sad as she longingly waits on me to return. It brought to mind the verse I chose for today from Psalm 130:5 out of the Amplified Bible: “I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits, and in His word do I hope.”

I can’t help but wonder if this is similar to God when we wander away? Often times it starts simply enough and then the distance grows along with the absence. I think about the times I’ve strayed and I can’t recall a single time I consciously said, “See ya later, Lord,” but I strayed all the same. Whether it was due to busyness, neglect, or obsessing over other people, places, or things, I allowed that distance to grow. The beautiful thing we see is God also waits patiently and expectantly, hoping we will return.

If you feel like you are in a season of waiting, do so with expectant patience. If you are in a season of wandering, please know God is patiently, expectantly, and awaiting with hope for you to turn toward home. Once you do, as we see from Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father will come running to meet you as soon as you do, lavishing you with His love. So, whether you’re waiting or wandering, don’t lose hope and look for the love of your heavenly Father.