Waiting for the Other Shoe – Psalm 146:5-10

by Melody Slawter

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD his God,

who made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them,

who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed,

who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;

the LORD loves the righteous. 

The LORD watches over the sojourners;

He upholds the widow and the fatherless,

but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin.

The LORD will reign forever,

your God, O Zion, to generations.

Praise the LORD!”

Psalm 146:5-10

There's a common phrase in our culture of "waiting for the other shoe to drop." It's a perspective we can easily fall into – this felt dread of inevitability that something bad will happen. 

The idea of something going wrong isn't outside of our reality, living in a fallen world with sickness and natural disasters and things that don't always go the way we prefer, and with (and as) people whose choices have consequences on themselves and those around them. 

But I was dwelling this morning on how remarkably, wholly, amazingly good God is. 

Think with me for a moment on the characteristics He outlines for us in His Word: He is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. He is good and does good, and He who gave us His own Son to save us, will He not also graciously give us all things? A good Father who readily gives His Spirit – in abiding, loving relationship and instruction – to all who ask Him. A good Shepherd who knows each one who is His, calls us out by name, and will never lose any of those the Father has given to Him. The God who sees us. The God who provides perfectly. He is merciful and gracious. He is just, righteous, and faithful. He is glorious beyond our imagination. 

He is compassionate and understanding, an advocate and a powerful help to us. He knows everything about us, He formed us with His hands in great care and detail, and knows the hairs of our head. He holds all wisdom and knowledge. He knew our sin and how it would destroy us, and Jesus the Son came to earth to live as a man and to die as a provided sacrifice, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world – the Lamb who takes your sin away from you, if you but receive Him – and the Savior who rose victoriously from the grave three days later. 

He has all authority and all power. He is almighty, the Creator of everything in the universe, upholding all things by the mere word of His power. Nothing can stop Him or His purposes. He is unchanging. He holds everything in His hands. He is light, and He is for you, and His steadfast love endures forever. 

Is it not amazing that this is who God is?

The God who made everything – He might have been a harsh ruler. Or one who changes. With some level of darkness or corruption. One who has favorites and overlooks others. 

But no. The living God who made everything and rules everything is love and steady truth, a foundation of light and abundant life we can stand on and hope in. This God is your keeper, your protector, who surrounds you with His favor as with a shield. He knows and sees and loves you, and He is sovereign with grace over your life. 

So while there will be hardships and pain and trial and confusion in this mortal life in this broken world, "He knows the way that I take... I shall come out as gold" (Job 23:10). Goodness and light and strength and love and joy – that is what is in store for us. "Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart" (Psalm 27:11) This is what God sows into your path and will be reaped: light and joy.

Let us choose to fix our eyes on the joy before us, because our God is good and lightens even our darkness. 

I heard someone say recently that they want to stop thinking about all the bad things that have happened and instead to focus on the good that will happen. I love that mindset shift. The forward perspective and expectation. Connecting beautifully with Psalm 27:13-14, "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

Yes, let's wait for the Lord – not for the "other shoe."

Consider what you will do today to start retraining your focus toward the goodness of the Lord coming to you, setting yourself in a position of eager anticipation for what He will do. Spend time in praise for who He is, and ask Him to strengthen your faith and your heart to take courage with joy, to wait for Him expectantly and believe you will see His abundant goodness poured out in your life.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." 

Psalm 136:1