Faith Testimonies: Stories of Hope and Inspiration

How Long, O Lord

How long, O Lord? Have you ever felt this way? I know I have.

David says it 4 times In the first two verses of Psalm 13.

He asks 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 all the day? How long will my enemy (win)… be exalted over me?

You can sense, feel, (almost reach out and touch) David’s overwhelming feelings of deep discouragement and aloneness; you can hear the utter desperation in his voice as he pleads, Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death. … Or I will sleep the sleep of death. (Sigh) You can really appreciate his honesty & humanness, And vulnerability here. … And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” … And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. Wait for it… BUT I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. I love that saying “When you can’t see His hand, trust His heart “ Trust in His love for you; it’s what David did. “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness.” My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. David had such a tender & passionate heart; He felt things very deeply; making things more difficult when he did feel them, and yet he allowed the word of God to govern over him instead of his emotions. In his deepest hurts and darkest sorrows, the word of God directed him. He would find God's beauty in the ashes. My heart will rejoice in Your salvation. If ever there was a reason to rejoice; If we ever need to find a reason to rejoice… this is it.

I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. I love that David in all his human frailty, weakness and raw emotions was still able to sing and remember God's goodness, and after talking with God was able to rejoice and give God the glory. Surely, we have as much reason to rejoice; Surely Jesus is reason Enough. Surely God has dealt bountifully with us; In the cross, in heaven and life eternal.

In the expression of His love, hope and Incomparable evidence in His sacrifice. In the richness and bounty of His unfailing love; Unwavering goodness, unending tender mercies and faithfulness; in His unmatchable trustworthiness unbreakable bond and eternal commitment to Love you and I with an everlasting love. This quote by Max Lucado sums it up so well “What I have in God is greater than What I don’t have in my life.” Surely today is a vapor and then it’s gone But eternity is everlasting Joy in Him. Take heart, be of good courage though the journey Is long and hard It will be worth the wait. Don’t lose heart, don’t give up. God sees your tears and knows your heart. Imagine if David had stayed focused on verses 1-2. I pray the Lord would strengthen and encourage both you and I together in Him today. God bless you! Thanks for reading.