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 (NIV)
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, NIV). 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 mother of four active boys. She works in the property management
business. Jeannine serves with the Oakwood café and is actively involved in
ministry to those walking through grief.
