Human Response 685: Asking How Long

Psalm 13:1-2 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

David prays and trusts the Lord well enough, and he knows the Lord will answer his prayer and protect him. However, he still has doubts alongside faith. So he asks the Lord with honesty, and with pleading, “How long until you hear my prayer and save me from my enemy?” It is an honest question that speaks with faith that God will answer, but also speaks with doubt and impatience. To David it felt as though God forgot him and withdrew His Presence (hid his face) from him, and it felt sorrowful like the enemy was winning.

Many times in our lives God seems distant and uncaring and deaf to our pleas. We get impatient with God while we wait for answers. But during the times of waiting God wants us to hold on to Him and His promises to strengthen our faith. When and how God answers is up to Him in His wisdom and love. His timing is not ours. In spite of doubt we believe the saying: “God is never in a hurry, but He is never late.” It is a natural response to become impatient with God and let doubts arise, but then the Lord strengthens our faith during the times we ask, “How long?”