How Long, Lord?

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Psalm 13:1-2

In this short psalm, David, whom God called a man after His own heart, cries out four times, “How long?”

As I read it, I think of all the times as a young child that I cried out when we were traveling to see grandparents. As the car kept winding through the mountains, every five minutes I’d cry out, “How long until we get there?” My parents were very patient, even though I’m sure they were thinking, We can’t wait until we get there either!

I haven’t ever stopped crying out to God even though I’m an adult. I still cry out as a child of God when I feel emotional pain in my heart or physical pain in my body: “How long, Lord? How long will it last?” Our desire to be rid of pain and discomfort doesn’t disappear with age.

David is such a model of faith. He pours out his weary-of-waiting heart to God. Because of the simple fact that he knew where to look for comfort, his faith trumped his feelings. God had not forgotten him, nor was He looking the other way.

God has not forgotten you and me, either, and He is never avoiding our need for help! Skip to the end of David’s song in Psalm 13. Verses 5 and 6 say, “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.”

Our timing is not always God’s timing; more often than not, it seems to be different. He makes all things beautiful in His time (right, Sweet Sherry? Ecclesiastes 3). Even when the waiting feels endless, we can take heart that God is still present and working in His sovereign wisdom and love. He will rescue us in His perfect way and time. Faith trumps feelings in our how long? hearts every time!