“O LORD, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.” (Psalm13:1-3 NLT)
Man, does that not sound familiar? Can you relate to that? David wrote this psalm when he was exhausted and depressed. Depressed? Yes, David was depressed. King Saul’s pursuit of him had gone on for years and David had done him no wrong; in fact, he was a faithful servant who respected the king. He had opportunities to take king Saul out and he did not do it. In fact, when king Saul was killed David genuinely mourned for him. But right now, David is tired and depressed. I have to believe that if David were living today, he would look at everything that is going on around us and feel pretty much the same way. “When is this pandemic going to end? When can we get back to normal? Why is there so much hatred and anger between people? Why have people resorted to this kind of action? What are people thinking? Why all of the violence? Why the rioting and destruction? What is that going to accomplish? What is wrong with our government and our leaders? They act like children!”
Have you asked any of those questions? Maybe you are dealing with health issues and it seems as though when one thing is treated and it seems as though you are making progress, the next shoe drops. Doctor visit after doctor visit, hospital stay after hospital stay, and it seems like you are getting no where. “How much longer LORD?” It might be that you have a boss or co-worker who you just cannot please. You have tried to be kind; you have gone out of your way to do extra; and still, they just seem to not like you and it seems as though they never will. “How much longer LORD?”
David is at his wit’s end. As you read Psalm 13 you can sense his frustration and inclination to just give up. Someone wrote this: “…man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. When we are at our wit’s end, without resources, at a loss for a way, perplexed and desperate–that is usually when we see God begin to work. But before He does anything about our situation He wants to do something about ourselves, and that is where we begin to hedge. We want God to deal with our complication; He wants to develop our character. We want Him to change our circumstances; He wants to change us first. That is why He allowed the circumstances.” Are we okay with that? Are you willing to wait on God’s process and plan? David was frustrated. Is that wrong?
I believe that God has given us Psalm 13 to teach us how to pray; how to talk to Him. He can handle your questions. He can handle your frustrations. You are not going to upset Him if you genuinely want an answer. Are you willing to hear what He might have to say, or as in this case here, are you willing for Him to say nothing? Keep reading Psalm 13. I have no idea how much time passed between verse 4 and verse 5. I like to call your attention to that white space between those two verses. What happened there? How much time passed? What was David thinking there? We are not told. We know nothing about that white space other than what we have experienced ourselves. David moves from asking question after question, obviously showing some frustration, to declaring in verse 5 that he trusts in God’s unfailing love. But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. (v.5) What happened? I am not sure, but I have to think that it might have something to do with his request in verse 3 where he says Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. It is almost as if David is saying “God, please give me something.”
Somewhere and sometime between verse 4 and verse 5 God put a “rainbow” in the mind of David. David began to think and remember the faithfulness of God all throughout his own life. God delivered him from the bear and the lion. God delivered him from Goliath and the Philistines. God delivered him from the corruption of success and the jealousy of Saul. “He has come through tears to truth and through truth to triumph.” When David rehearses all of this in His mind, it grabs a hold of his heart and he begins to sing. “Have David’s actual immediate circumstances changed? No. Has Saul called off his bloodhounds and his bullies? No. Is Saul dead? No. Has David received a new shipment of arms? No. Nothing has changed. But David can sing because God hasn’t changed.”
Has the pandemic ended? No. Are things anywhere close to normal? No. Has the hatred and anger ceased? No, in fact it seems to be getting worse. Have the riots and violence and destruction ended? No, in fact authorities are preparing for more. Do you have the answers to your health questions? No, I have more questions. Have things improved with the co-worker or boss? No. Nothing has changed! God hasn’t either!!! Throw yourself into the white space between verses 4 & 5 and trust in His unfailing love. Rejoice in your salvation! He has been so, so good to me and to you! It’s okay to ask!