How Long, O Lord?

How Long, O Lord?

The wait. The wait for the blessing, the wait for deliverance, the wait itself—nobody likes to wait. Especially in this modern world, where everything is at our fingertips. Blink, and you get it. A two-second delay? That feels too long. Someone will find a way to make it 0.2 seconds.

In this super-fast era, how do we endure waiting for the things we have prayed for? David cried out:

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me? -Psalm 13:1

The waiting period is the real test, isn't it? During these times, many might drift away from the Lord. Doubts creep in: Am I holding onto nothing? Maybe the blessing is for others, not me. Oh, the lies Satan whispers to us! We are often most vulnerable during these moments.

When I think of waiting, I think of Abraham.

He was 75 years old when God promised him an offspring (Genesis 12:4). He was 100 when he finally received the blessing. The previous chapter, Genesis 11, gives us an idea of the typical age for fathering children in that era. Abraham's father bore children at 70, but many of his forefathers had children around the age of 30. (Only now I understand why all those numbers are there in the geneology)

By the time God made His promise, Abraham was already 5 years past 70. Imagine what he might have thought: Maybe this year I’ll have a child. Or this month. Or next month. How many disappointments must he have faced before the blessing finally arrived? Yet, he remained faithful. Abraham passed the test with flying colors.

But what about us? We pray for a blessing and expect results as soon as we finish praying.

So, what should we do during the waiting period? Let’s return to David. He pours out his heart to God, lamenting and questioning. But notice how he finishes the psalm:

But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. - Psalm 13:5

David focuses on what God is going to do, and he rejoices because of that. When we face troubled times, let’s visualize the things we are confident God will accomplish and rejoice in them. The present may seem bleak, but God writes the final chapter.

How long, O Lord? Even if the wait feels long, the blessing will be well worth it.

Visualize while waiting.

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