“But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” Psalm 106:13

Take a moment and think about all of the ways God has blessed you over the course of your life. Do you remember His hand at work in your life? Do you recall an unexpected blessing or opportunity that came your way? Do you remember His protection and comfort during a stormy season of life? Are you expectantly trusting God to guide you and provide for you even when you’re not sure what your next move should be?

I ask these questions in light of the verse above. The Psalmist here is chastising Israel for forgetting God’s goodness and provision in the past, and for failing to wait for His plan for them to unfold. Like them, one of the important lessons we are to learn from God’s faithful provision is that we can trust Him for whatever comes next, even when that requires extended patience. When our next steps are not clear we need to take David’s advice from Psalm 27:14: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

If we are not willing to wait patiently for the Lord, we may make the same mistake the Israelites made as “they forgot the God who saved them” (Psalm 106:21a) and pursued many wrong paths. We need to remember the words of the prophet Jeremiah who wrote, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God will never fail you. When He seems slow to answer or slow to act, just be patient and wait for His plans to unfold. You will not be disappointed. Are you trusting God for the next steps in your life?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)