SERMON NOTES WITH APPLICATION - “SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD, NOW” PT II - 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 II

Psalm 27:13–14 (KJV)Follows: I GOT IT

THE MAIN MOVE OF THE TEXT

David admits, “I almost fainted.”Translation: “I was this close to checking out emotionally, spiritually, mentally.”

But what kept him standing was belief — a stubborn, resilient confidence that he would still see God’s goodness right here, in the land of the living.

Verse 14 then commands:Wait. Be courageous. Stay anchored. God will strengthen your heart.This isn’t passive waiting — it’s hope-filled, disciplined, and alert waiting.

POINT 1 — PROTECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT (v. 13a)

“I had fainted…”

Before David sees God’s goodness, he admits he was near collapse.Fainting happens when your environment and intake drain you more than they nourish you.

Just like the body dehydrates quietly — especially in winter — the soul dries out when the environment is toxic, overcrowded, overheated, noisy, or spiritually stale.

Why it matters for everybody (young/old, faith/no faith):

Your surroundings shape your strength.You can’t stay hopeful in a hopeless habitat.

Practical Application:

Monitor soul dehydration: fatigue, low energy, irritability, numbness, discouragement.
Choose environments that feed life: worship, rest, therapy, wise friends, stillness, accountability.
Cut off what drains you: overexposure to drama, chaos, doom-scrolling, negative voices.
Add hydration habits: small spiritual practices, breathing room, reflection, Scripture, gratitude.
Stay out of overheated spaces: physical or emotional — it keeps you from fainting.

If you want to see the goodness of the Lord, your environment has to stop attacking the very hope you’re trying to hold on to.

POINT 2 — PURPOSELY PURSUE YOUR PROMISES (v. 13b–c)

“…unless I had believed to SEE the goodness of the Lord…”

David didn’t survive by wishing.He survived by believing — with intention, on purpose, even when circumstances were wild.

This is active faith.This is “I’m not giving up my future because my present looks messy.”

Why it matters:

People faint when they lose sight of what they’re walking toward.Hope collapses without pursuit.

Practical Application:

Name your promise: What did God say? What are you hoping for? Healing? Breakthrough? Transformation? Direction?
Move toward it intentionally: Apply again. Pray again. Try again. Rest intentionally so you can try again.
Look for goodness now: Not when the whole story wraps up — now. In small mercies, little breakthroughs, tiny open doors.
Practice resilient trust: Psalm 27 says fainting isn’t a failure of strength — it’s usually a failure to trust.
Tell yourself the truth: Who God is in your situation.

This is where your faith becomes the rubber ball — life can throw you down, but the harder it hits, the higher you rise.

POINT 3 — PRESERVE YOUR ENERGY (v. 14)

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

Waiting isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.And it’s work.

This verse calls us to anchor our entire lives in God.Courage doesn’t come from hype — it comes from being connected to the One who strengthens your heart.

Trust is a discipline.Mays says trust grows through exercise — meaning spiritual strength is built, not magically downloaded.

Why it matters to everybody:

You don’t have unlimited energy.If you waste your strength on the wrong things, you won’t have any left for what God is doing.

Practical Application:

Preserve your heart: Don’t pour emotional energy into battles God never assigned you.
Wait actively, not anxiously: Pray, reflect, listen, journal, slow down, fill your mind with God’s character.
Practice spiritual training: worship, discipline, devotion, stillness, and wholeheartedness (“Tamil” = wholeness).
Stay alert: Notice where God is moving. Notice where He isn’t.
Choose courage daily: Courage doesn’t always roar — sometimes it whispers, “I’m still here.”