How to pray while you wait for an answer

Read verses 1 and 2 with your question in mind

The psalm begins with a question about how long the waiting will last. The writer returns to it several times. Try reading those first two verses slowly, leaving a little silence between each question.

What keeps coming back to your mind? Name that to God as plainly as you can. If the same sentence comes again tomorrow, bring it with you then, too.

Let verses 3 and 4 shape one request

In the middle of the psalm, the writer asks God to pay attention and answer. Think about the next part of your day. What help could you ask for there? You might need patience for one conversation or the willingness to let a friend sit with you.

You can keep asking for the larger thing as well. Naming one need for this afternoon gives you somewhere to begin when the whole situation feels too large to put into words.

Carry a memory into verses 5 and 6

The closing lines turn toward God’s love and the goodness the writer remembers. The psalm leaves the timing of the answer open. Think of one act of care you have already received. You can give thanks for that moment and still tell God how much the waiting hurts.

If words are hard to find, you might borrow this prayer and change the last line to fit your day.

Jesus, you know the answer I am waiting for and how often I check for news. Thank you for the person who stayed with me yesterday. Give me the patience to listen to the person in front of me today. Amen.