How Long?

Lord, How long will you stand there doing nothing? Ps 35:17

How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to dishonor your name? Ps 74:9-10

…How long will you be angry with us? Forever? Ps 79:5

…How long will you be angry and reject our prayers? Ps 80:4

How long will you judges refuse to listen to the evidence?

How long will you shower special favor on the wicked? Ps 82:2

….how long with this go on? Ps 89:45

How long will you delay? Ps 90:13

…how long shall the wicked be allowed to triumph and exult? Ps 94:3

….how long must I wait…..Ps 119:84

The words play like a song on the radio. The one we don’t like but it’s catchy so we hum along.

These are the words of King David, a man after God’s heart. These are our words pleading, begging, questioning, how long?!

I have felt this plea over and over as have you. How long until my child comes to know you, Lord? How long until the wars stop? How long until there’s peace, a cure, a job, a home, a family, until….

I feel it so keenly today. With search engines waiting to be asked our questions we expect answers and we expect them now.

What do we do when the answer is wait? The answer that feels like no answer. It feels like the end.

I must admit, I like David’s honesty, his boldness when he’s crying out to God. Yet through his despair David guides us back to God’s unfailing love for us. I pray that in spite of our deep sorrow we find our way back to God’s mercy and grace. We find our way back to hope.

Eugene Peterson, in the Message, finishes Psalm 13 with these words:

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
    I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
    I’m so full of answered prayers.

Psalm 13:5-6 the Message

May it be so.