How Long?
By Jeannine Sawall
“How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
Psalm 13:1
How
often in our lives can we relate with King David and ask the Lord “How long?” I
know in my own struggles, “How long?” rang out time and again while I watched
friends and family around me birth baby after healthy baby while I lost baby
after baby in miscarriage. “How long, Lord, before I will hold my own baby?”
“How long, Lord, before you take me out of this dark place?” “How long, Lord,
before I feel your presence again?”
As
Christians, we often find ourselves in a time of waiting. Perhaps today you
find yourself in the agonizing days of “How long?” How long will I be unemployed? How long will
my child wrestle with God? How long until I find a husband?...struggle with ill
health?...be united with my loved one whom I miss in earnest? How long Lord
until you return?! How long does life have to continue to be so difficult?
Waiting in “How long” can cause us to become discouraged and lose hope that God
will deliver us!
However,
if we read on in Psalm 13, David, while acknowledging his grief and
frustration, remembers the promises given to him. He reminds himself of what
God has done in the past. He goes on to say, “But I trust in your unfailing
love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me” (Psalm 13:5). Knowing that
David asked questions in hard times can help strengthen our faith. We no longer
have to rely on saying the “right words,” giving Christian platitudes or the lie
of “I’m fine.” We can share our heartsickness with our loving God, realizing He
doesn’t need or want “pretty words.”
Instead, He wants us to share our hurts and frustrations honestly, but
also remember to trust in the promise that He is who He says He is.
We
also have to remember that God works unencumbered by time. He does not wear a
watch and He does not need a calendar app to remind Him how much time has
passed. When we are in a season of “How long,” we are called to follow David’s
commitment…to believe God still is in control, still is unfailing and still
keeps His promises. Sometimes in the midst of difficulties and waiting, our
hearts may not sing the same song our minds tell us to, but we can embrace the words of belief and trust…no matter how long it takes.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you in a season of waiting? How will you
show the Lord that you believe He is faithful?
2. Have you
lost hope because God is taking too long? What could you do today to re-orient
yourself to hope?
FURTHER READING:
Jeannine
is a wife and active mother of four boys. She works in property management and
is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.
