From Now Until Easter - A Song Rises

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Rev. Melody Meeter - the director of the spiritual care department at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn.

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I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning -Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
Psalm 130:5-6 NKJV

Down there in the pit, the psalmist is in despair, not only about his own iniquities, his weaknesses, his sins of omission and commission, but also about the iniquities of his people Israel. The individual sins are entwined with the sins of the nation. But it is also down there in the pit the psalmist remembers something else: “ … there is forgiveness with you,” and “with the Lord there is steadfast love,” and “with him is great power to redeem.” 

There is hope in the waiting for God’s redemption. Twice the psalmist repeats the phrase “my soul waits” and twice repeats the image of the soul waiting for the Lord “more than those who watch for the morning.”

As a chaplain, I get to wait for a little while with souls that are waiting for God to show up. It’s really dark down there. But in the very act of crying out, sometimes a light surprises—a healing, a surrender, a peace, a hope. The song rises.

Prayer:

Dear God,
                Grant us to see Your light though we may be in the depths. Grant us to feel Your steadfast love though we may feel unlovable. And grant us companions with us to wait for You in hope. Amen.