The Hallmark store used to sell books with a recorder in them. As a person reads the story out loud, it is recorded and as the child turns the pages, the child hears the recorded voice. When my grandson was very young, I gave him one of those recorded books. I carefully read the story for each page. After many uses, the battery died as he was listening. My grandson leaned forward and said, “Tutta, Tutta, are you there?”
“How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”
Psalms 13:1-2 NKJV https://www.bible.com/114/psa.13.1-2.nkjv
How Long
David cries out to the Lord ‘how long’ four times in these two verses. Have you ever felt forgotten by God? Isaiah 49:14-16 answers that question. God has inscribed your name on the palm of His hands and never will forget you. God may hide His face occasionally because of His love for you, but never forgets you.
Within We Struggle
Within we struggle with anxious thoughts. Worries and concerns are hard to erase in our minds. Our small area has been hard hit with sickness and deaths. Our country struggles to find common ground. How long, Oh Lord?
Rubbing Salt In a Womb
Finally, David is dealing with the fact that his enemies are doing very well. It is like rubbing salt in a womb. All the hardships and all the worries, yet, the people who are ungodly seem to do very well. These thoughts of David’s are real in the life of a Christian.
Psalms 13 offers four things to do in difficult times:
- Keep praying.
Psalms 13:3, “Consider me and answer, Lord, my God.” David goes on to ask God to restore brightness to his eyes. He is asking for his eyes of faith to be clear. Allow us to see clearly and understand the ways of God.
- Keep trusting
Psalms 13:5, “But I have trusted in Your faithful love.” David has trusted in God. Even though he begins the Psalm in sorrow, he ends the Psalm in an uplifted spirit. He has confidence in God. We, too, should put our trust in the Lord. Remember His faithful love for you and trust.
- Keep rejoicing
Psalms 13:5b, “my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance.” David is rejoicing even though his circumstances have not changed. The Message Bible says, “I’m celebrating your rescue.” If we trust in God, then we have reason to celebrate His deliverance even though you may not see evidence of it now.
- Keep worshipping
Psalms 13:6, “I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.”
David has remembered all that God has done for him. His mind and strength has been renewed.
Remember All He Has Done
We all have moments that we question God. We get impatient and yearn to see an answer to our prayers, a change in our circumstances. Just as David did, we must focus on the faithfulness and love of God. Remember all He has done for you and pray, trust, rejoice and worship.
Paula Wallace
