Psalm 13: How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Who knew perseverance was such a virtue? One we would be in so much need of. The difficulties of 2020 have caused us to step up our capacity for enduring. But how do we keep pressing on when the cruelty and ugliness of the world seems to hide God? When dissension and distrust cast an ominous shadow over much of our thoughts?
My mind goes to The Lord of the Rings, which I’ve been rereading during the pandemic.
For me, one of the most poignant moments occurs in The Two Towers when Sam recalls how all the stories that matter—the ones that inspire us—portray folks who had opportunity to turn back, but chose to keep going, holding on to the end. Frodo, overcome with discouragement, asks “What are we holding on to, Sam?”
Sam’s simple response moves me to tears. “That there’s still good in the world worth fighting for.” Do you know the battles you’re facing are worth fighting for? Do you know God has a bigger picture to bring beauty from your pain? I lose sight of that in my weak moments.
So did David. Psalm 13 reflects his despair when he can’t see God. Charles Spurgeon comments there are so many “how longs” in this 6-verse psalm that it could be called the “howling psalm.” David cries, “How long will you forget me? How long will you hide your face? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts? And how long will my enemy win?
But as David asks God to hear him, he pivots from his pain to praise. He chooses to trust in a love that has never failed him. And sing to the One whose goodness continues to brace his life. David saw the bigger picture. Like Frodo, he rose above the darkness and set his eyes on the end worth fighting for.
I pray you are doing the same. May you lift your eyes above all the sorrowful, confusing thoughts trying to whittle away your faith. God desires to do more in your trial than just help you get through.. Let him transform your how longs into unwavering confidence. Don’t turn back and let your story be incomplete.