The 27th Psalm was the inspiration behind the Christian hymn, "The Lord is My Light"—the lyrics being penned by the 19th century Methodist, James L. Nicholson. Psalm 27:1 states, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear." The first stanza of Nicholson's hymn declares: "The Lord is my light; then why should I fear? By day and by night, His presence is near. He is my salvation from sorrow and sin; This blessed assurance the Spirit doth bring." Nicholson well captured the spirit behind this important Psalm—the final verse declaring, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!"

In the 4th century, Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, explained: "The Holy Spirit gently whispers, 'Wait for the Lord,' for your present sufferings are slight, while your rewards will be great; endure for a little while, and you will be with the angles forever." God's people have often lived in times when persecution was commonplace. And while that persecution faded for a time, once again, it is becoming true that the believer is mocked, rejected, and even oppressed and incarcerated because of their efforts to simply live their religion. Thus, the psalmist—along with Bishop Cyril—remind us to trust in God's timing and in His will. "Take courage" and be as "strong" as you can be. Whatever you're going through, it won't last forever. He's got your back! Wait for Him… Wait for Him!