Psalm 40: It's Worth The Wait

Waiting can feel like silence, like nothing is moving, like you’re stuck in the mud and mire while everyone else stands on solid ground. Today we open Psalm 40 and take David’s words seriously: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” That single line holds a whole theology of patience, prayer, and rescue, and it meets you right where you are if you’re tired of guessing what God is doing. 

We read the chapter and trace the arc of David’s testimony: God lifts him out of the pit, steadies his steps, and puts a new song in his mouth. Then the psalm turns honest again. Trouble still surrounds him. He still needs mercy. And yet the memory of what God has already done becomes fuel for deeper trust. We also talk about why testimony matters, not as a performance, but as a practical way God uses our stories to strengthen faith in a “great assembly” and in everyday conversations. 

Before we close, we give a straightforward challenge for the next seven days: tell one person something good the Lord has done for you, even if it’s recent and simple. It will encourage you as you remember, it may speak directly into what they’re facing, and it can lead both of you to praise. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s in a waiting season, and leave a five-star review so more people can find the Bible Breakdown Podcast.

Transcript

Welcome To Bible Breakdown

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hey everyone and welcome to the Bible Breakdown Podcast. In this podcast, we will be breaking down the Bible one chapter a day. Whether you are a new believer or have been following Christ for a while, we believe that you will learn something new and fresh every single day. So thank you for joining us and let's get into breaking down the Bible together.

Psalm 40 Theme Worth The Wait

SPEAKER_01 0:23

Well, hello everybody. Welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, Pastor Brandon. Today, Psalm chapter 40, and today's title is It's Worth the Wait. It's worth the wait. I don't know about you, but there's a lot of things that when I look back at in the past, I think are just wonderful, but probably in the moment they were not so wonderful. You know what I mean? It's just looking back in the past has a way to just kind of soften the edges a little bit. But there was this thing we used to do when I was growing up in church, and we used to call them testimony service. And those things were not always so good because the goal was if you had a testimony about what the Lord had done in your life, you were invited to stand up before the church and to give that testimony. Well, just like now, back then, there were some sweet, precious people, and there were people who just needed a platform. You know what I mean? They needed somebody to listen. And so we'd have folks that would just talk for no on on and on for no reason at all. We had people that it was, it was time to give testimony, but instead they'd give, you know, you know, a testiphony or a bragemony, you know, something like that, just kind of like, you know, you know, listen, I'm not trying to brag, but, or they give a gossip money. I don't know if you know what that is, but they would say, by the way, listen, the Lord is good, but y'all need to pray for so and so because and so as a kid, I love testimony service because you had no idea what kind of controversy was about to come out, right? But I'll never forget there was always one or two older people in the congregation who would stand up and they would say, you know what? When I was younger, I didn't know what it was going to be like to celebrate and to live for the Lord. But can I tell you, it was worth the wait. Now that I'm getting older, I can see back on all that God has done and it was worth it this whole time. I've seen the Lord answer my prayer and it was worth it. I mean, they just keep going, just keep going. And it would be so encouraging. And it was a testimony of living for God has been worth it because in the end, God always comes through. And that's what this testimony is about

How Testimony Builds Faith

SPEAKER_01 2:27

today. And so we're gonna read this, and then there's a challenge for you at the end. So if you got your Bibles, want to open up with me to Psalm chapter 40. Also, make sure you take just a moment, like, share, and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure to leave us a five-star review on the podcast, it really does help. And make sure you're going to the Bible breakdown discussion on Facebook. There's an amazing group of people doing a wonderful job. And as always, the more we dig, the more we find. Well, if you've been with us over the past several days, we are walking through the book of Psalms one song at a time. And it's actually not just one book, but it's five books in one. That is the collection of the greatest hits of the people of God. And just like now, back then when things were going on in culture, things were going on in life, people wrote songs about it. And these were the ones that the Holy Spirit inspired, and they're for all different occasions, and they help us learn how to do life with God. And one of the most powerful things we can do is share our testimony. In today's chapter, David is writing a song of the testimony of saying it was worth the wait. Every time I trusted the Lord, he always came through. And that's a powerful, powerful testimony to give. And so let's read this together, and then we're going to give a challenge here at the end. So if you ready, here

Reading Psalm 40 Aloud

SPEAKER_01 3:43

we go. Psalm 40, verse 1 says this I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing and a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in the worship, those who worship idols. O Lord, my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand. You don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I said, Look, I have come as look, I have come as it is written about me in the scriptures. I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart. I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart. I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. Lord, don't hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For your troubles, for troubles surround me, too many to count. My sins pile up so high I can't see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. Please, Lord, rescue me. Come quickly, Lord, and help me. May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble turn back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, Aha, we have him now. But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, The Lord is great. As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. Oh my God, do not delay. Wow.

Why Past Rescue Fuels Trust

SPEAKER_01 6:08

This is an amazing testimony. You know why? Because it talks about how I needed God. He was faithful. And even though I still need him, what I've been through already causes me to trust him more. What an amazing testimony. So here again, I needed God and He came through. While life is still not perfect, because I still need him, that trust in Him reminds me that He is still faithful. What an amazing testimony because that's life. It's amazing how God brings us through so many things. And that doesn't mean that we don't have new things, but it means that God will still be faithful. And so here's my test for you today. David said that I will tell of your wonders. And if I if I tried to write them all down, I'd run out of room. I can't even remember all the wonderful things you've done. And he said, as I tell people of your wonders and your wonderful deeds, other people will begin to praise you

Challenge Share Your Story This Week

SPEAKER_01 7:03

too. Here's my challenge for you. I don't care who it is. Maybe you pray about it and you ask the Lord to put someone on your heart. But what would it look like for you before the end of this week, whatever, whatever day it is you listen to this podcast, seven days from now, before that, that you sit down and you just tell someone something good that the Lord has done for you. It doesn't have to be your, you know, your complete life testimony, which would be great. But what if it's just something that He has done recently in your life? And just say, I have no other reason for telling you this other than I just want to brag on the Lord and I just want to tell someone else about it. And watch what happens. Do you know as I've done this before in my life? First of all, what it does is it encourages me because before you go tell them, you got to rehearse it in your mind a little bit. And it just reminds you that God is good. And then when you tell them, can I tell you, so many times when I've done this, people have said to me, you know, I am so glad that you did that. That actually speaks to exactly something I'm going through because God's always doing more than we realize. And then number three, it causes them to celebrate the Lord too. So try it this week and watch what happens. I guarantee you, it will bless you, it will help them, and it will cause both of you to give God praise. I look forward to hearing in

Prayer For Courage And Joy

SPEAKER_01 8:15

the comments how it goes. Let's pray together right now. God, thank you so much for today. Thank you, God, that you're with us and you're for us. God, I pray that first of all, you will give us courage to step out and to tell somebody else of your goodness. That you'll give us, Lord, the ability to remember a story of your faithfulness. There's so many that we can choose from. And then I pray that as we step into that, Lord, you will use it to bring somebody else some joy today. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Closing Verse And Goodbye

SPEAKER_01 8:40

And amen. Well, God's Word says in Psalm 34, verse 1, say it with me. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for Psalm chapter 41.