“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?” – Psalm 13:1,2
No newsflash is necessary for people to know how much I hate cold weather. Much of the chatter from me during winter is about how cold it is, and the countdown to spring. I dislike when winter is my present season. My desire is for the next season to hurry its arrival. Yet, the truth is I cannot hurry the next season! I must learn to live in the season I find myself. I cannot wish away the present season!
No matter how much we try to wish it away or long for the next season, we must learn to live victoriously in the present, until the new season arrives.
God has been reminding me that life has seasons, and that at some point, one season must give way to the next. Think of how winter becomes spring. It is not instantaneous. It is still very cold and then “suddenly” there will be a warm day, then back to cold, repeat and repeat. In time, the cold is gone and the warm is present every day. That means there has been a change of season.
As David wrote Psalm 13, he was on the run from King Saul and found himself in the hard place of losing hope. He was in dire need of encouragement and strength. Words of anguish filled his heart and then came forth as words from his mouth. He cried out to God, “How long?”
Are you living in the unbearable days of “How long?” How long will I be unemployed? How long will my marriage be like this? How long will I have financial problems? How long must I continue to pray to become pregnant? How long will my child be a prodigal? How long will I live with this life-threatening diagnosis? How long will I be lonely? How long will my family continue to hurt me?
Our stay in “How long?” can seem “very long.”
You might be in a season that is difficult, the winter of life. Let me be honest enough to tell you that I have experienced the winters of life that have lingered way too long for my liking! I was chatting with a friend recently and my tears began to flow. She reminded me that I was going through a season of “how long?”
How thankful I am that the words of David can become my words to God. I can bring my pain to Him. It strengthens my faith to know that He will bring me through the season of “How long?”
Don’t give up, child of God. He knows where you are and what the cry of your heart is! A change of season will come! Until then, His grace is sufficient.
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.