Psalm 27 - Waiting for Heaven on Earth

Psalm 27 starts out with a positive declaration:

v.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 

David goes on to express confidence that the Lord will protect him, that God will stand by him when he's under attack. Other places in the same psalm, he pleads with God, to not abandon him to his enemies.

Our hospice patients face a daily enemy of disease and pain. For many, it seems like the only thing to look forward to is heaven; to be released from the burdens they carry.

David starts to wrap up the psalm with:
v.13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 

Ultimate hope is eternal life with God in heaven. However, the goodness of God isn't limited to heaven. His goodness is with us here on earth, even in the middle of pain and loss.

David finishes with an exhortation:
v.14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

He's not talking about holding out for heaven, waiting for eternity. He's saying we should wait for God's goodness to carry and sustain us in this present life, too.

Father,
Disease and death, pain and suffering sometimes seem to get the upper hand. For our patients, for ourselves: enable our faith. Add courage to our faith--courage to wait for You to pour Your goodness into our lives, even when everything else seems to work against it. In Jesus' name, Amen.