How Long?

A Series on the Psalms – a collection of prayers
Feeling ignored
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Psalm 13 

[Life is full of emotions. The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers that express our emotions which are the cry of our soul for hope. In this series, we will be looking in the mirror of the Psalms, to learn more about ourselves and our Lord.]

 

Nobody likes being ignored!

 

Some children grow up in a family where the adage, “Children should be seen and not heard”, is the modus operandi. Even when they try to get their parent’s attention they can’t. Being ignored doesn’t feel good.

 

David experienced that same feeling. Only he felt ignored by God. The NIV study Bible suggests that David had a life threatening illness, and felt that God was ignoring his pleas for help. Whatever his situation, here is his opening cry.

 

¹ O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
    How long will you look the other way?
² 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?      NLT

 

Author Philip Yancey wrote a pertinent book titled “Reaching for the Invisible God”. Here is a summary of his book.

 

“Life with God doesn’t always work like we thought. High expectations slam against the reality of personal weaknesses and unwelcome surprises. And the God who we’ve been told longs for our company may seem remote, emotionally unavailable.”

 

Quite possibly, David wondered how a relationship with God worked without being able to see, hear or touch Him. It seemed like David felt invisible to this invisible God. However, that wasn’t his final word.

 

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love.
    I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord
    because he is good to me.           NLT

 

Even with all his doubts, David clearly states that he was now trusting in God’s unfailing love. Then, because of his faith, he declared that he will rejoice and sing to the Lord.

 

When we’re in the middle of a significant struggle, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. All we can see is the struggle in front of us. That’s when we call out to God and ask, “How long Lord”?

 

Like David, the answer for us starts with a small step of faith in who God is. Faith in His unfailing love for us. Faith that He is with us. Faith that he will take action. Faith in the Living God.

 

The author of Hebrews describes faith like this.

 

¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.                         Hebrews 11   NIV

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

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