How Long Will You Delay?

It is easy to look out into the world and see what’s wrong. Wars rage, disease and hunger run rampant, corruption reigns, natural disasters strike unsuspecting people and places without restraint. We call out to God to rescue us from this earth that seems to be filled with sin and disorder. Is it okay to wonder where he is and ask why so much suffering has to take place? Can it really be true that God loves the world? Can we believe that he is redeeming and restoring and working to make all things new? The Bible is rife with examples of the psalmists and prophets calling out to God with their questions, fears, and even demands for justice to be done; for the unrighteous to be punished; and for evil to be defeated. In our day, living in the tension between the Kingdom as it is present now and as it is yet to come, we know the outcome and see glimpses of what’s coming, but we still live in a time of such brokenness and sin. But something has been revealed to us that the prophets and psalmists did not know: that in Jesus Christ, God has acted and revealed his plan and purposes that he’s had since the foundation of the earth. In Christ, sin and death have been defeated and are on their way out, never to be seen again. Life has entered, resurrection is coming, and eternal life in God’s presence and light is our future.

Let us authentically and fully lament the state of the world and yet still hold on to the hope we have in Christ. We’ll open our eyes to the ways God is already working to right all wrongs and allow our sadness over the current state of things to lead us to a place of hope and action. May we be open to this hope.

HOW LONG WILL YOU DELAY?

a prayer to open

In the midst of the pain in the world, Lord, I cry out to you.

When darkness overwhelms and the light has faded,

lead me in the way of hope, and grant me eyes to see your goodness.

O LORD, come back to us!

How long will you delay?

Take pity on your servants!

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,

so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!

Replace the evil years with good.

Let us, your servants, see you work again;

let our children see your glory.

And may the Lord our God show us his approval

and make our efforts successful.

Yes, make our efforts successful!

Don’t you ever want to scream out, “Enough! Relent! We give up! We give in! No more!” This is the psalmist’s impulse. He has seen the pain and suffering in the world and begs God for compassion and mercy. At times this is our only option. When bad things happen, we want to act and relieve suffering, and of course God calls us to do this. There are situations, though, when we simply cannot relieve suffering; no action we take and no solution we bring can heal. Knowing that the world is plagued by sin, we can ask for God’s small mercies and for him to show us glimpses of the Kingdom in our midst and yet to come.

• As you read today’s lament, what world issue or problem came to mind? If you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to do so, spend time personalizing this lament. Pray the words as your own.
• As you consider more closely whatever world issue or problem came to mind for you as you read, where do you see good, compassion, or glimpses of God at work even in the midst of that problem?
• How is God calling you to participate in what he’s doing to restore and redeem people and the rest of creation in the problem or issue you have identified?

God, remind us of your unfailing love and fill us with your Spirit. Give us gladness of heart. Let us see you at work in our world today, and don’t delay. Let our children see you at work. Don’t give up on us! Come, Lord Jesus.