SERMON NOTES WITH APPLICATION -“SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD, NOW” PT I - Psalm 27:13-14

Pastor William Mathis
Dec 7, 2025
3 min read

Series: SHINE | Theme: Hidden Manna

“SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD, NOW” (Pt. I)

Psalm 27:13–14 (KJV)Follows the series: I GOT IT

THE MAIN IDEA

David is basically saying: “I almost collapsed… but I believed I’d still see God come through for me, right here in real life.” Not in heaven only. Now.

This text teaches us:

How not to faint
How to stay in the fight
How to bounce back like that rubber ball instead of breaking like the plate or staying down like the sandbag

The difference?What you’re made of.And Psalm 27 is trying to make us solid.

POINT 1 — STAY HYDRATED (v. 13a)

“I had fainted…”

David almost passed out spiritually.Fainting happens when your inner life is dehydrated — physically, emotionally, spiritually.

Hydration = what you’re taking in every day + the environment you’re living in.

Why this matters to anybody (Christian or not):

When you’re dry on the inside, you start breaking emotionally. You lose strength, clarity, joy, and resilience. Hydration keeps you alive when life feels like it’s draining you.

Practical Application:

Check your water levels:

Are you drained? Snappy? Numb? That’s dehydration talking.
Drink truth daily:

Scripture, worship, wise conversations, journaling, therapy, breathing room.
Fix your environment:

Too much noise, chaos, negativity, or pressure will dry your soul out quicker than summer sun.
Don’t wait until you're dizzy:

Build a rhythm of spiritual hydration before crisis hits.
Make hydration a lifestyle:

Winter, summer, good season, rough season — consistency keeps you from fainting.

Hydrated people stay standing long enough to see the goodness.

POINT 2 — STAY IN THE GAME (v. 13b–c)

“…unless I had believed to SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

David didn’t just believe God existed — he believed God would act.That belief kept him from quitting.

Faith here = refusing to walk away from the promise God made you.Hope is what keeps you in the ring when life is throwing punches.

Why this hits for everybody:

Whether you pray every day or aren’t sure what you believe — everybody knows what it feels like to want to give up.But you can’t see goodness if you dip out before it shows up.

Practical Application:

Name what you’re believing to see:

Healing? Peace? A new job? Reconciliation? Growth? Direction?
Take one step toward it:

No marathon — just movement.
Expect goodness NOW:

Look for small breakthroughs, small mercies, small signs.
Remember the rubber ball:

The harder life throws you, the higher you can bounce — if you stay in the game.
Let faith shape your mindset, not feelings:

Your feelings will try to make you quit, but your belief keeps you rooted.

Goodness shows up for people who refuse to walk off the court.

POINT 3 — STAY ALERT (v. 14)

“Wait on the Lord… be of good courage… he shall strengthen thine heart…”

This isn’t the “sit around scrolling and hope something happens” kind of waiting.This is active, disciplined, focused waiting — the kind that builds spiritual muscle.

This verse calls us to anchor ourselves completely in God so that we don’t drift, panic, or burn out.

Why everybody needs this:

Life is loud. The world is chaotic.If you’re not alert, you’ll waste energy on the wrong battles and miss God’s timing.

Practical Application:

Preserve your energy:

Stop fighting stuff that drains you but doesn’t grow you.
Practice good courage:

Courage isn’t loud — it’s steady. It’s choosing not to fold.
Train your trust:

Trust grows through spiritual habits — prayer, meditation, worship, community, obedience. (Mays wasn’t lying!)
Wait with expectation, not boredom:

Fill your mind with what’s true about God and who you’re becoming.
Stay awake to your own heart:

Pay attention to what strengthens you and what weakens you.