Psalm 27:13,14 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
The word “fainted” has many meanings. The primary meaning in this verse seems to be that of quitting, or ceasing to go forward. Jesus used this meaning when He said, in Luke 18:1: “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
The writer of this Psalm, David, had experienced much hardship and many trials. He had many enemies, who are mentioned more than once in this Psalm, and some of them wanted to kill him.
In this chapter, David committed the matter to the Lord in prayer. He had faith that God would answer and deliver him, which is seen in the phrase “unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” He believed that God would answer – and God did.
The key to getting those answers, David tells us, is to not always expect God to answer immediately. He has a perfect time when He will work. In the meantime, He expects us to “wait” on Him and continue to believe that He will answer.
At the right time, the best time, He will answer and the result will be a strengthened heart – not a fainting (quitting) one. Many believers today have stopped serving God – they “fainted.” They did not let God turn their dross into gold through the trial. Keep going, child of the King, continue to wait on Him, and He will yet strengthen your heart. With His help, you can be of “good courage” – which will enable you to do all He desires of you.