How Long, O Lord?

"Patience, patience conquers nations" we say. But it is sometimes very hard to be patient, especially nowadays when we have so many instant things from coffee to news. There are times when we even become impatient with God. He doesn't seem to answer our prayers right away!

In Psalm 13, David, who wrote the psalm, became very impatient with God. Four times he asks God, "How long, O Lord?" It was as if he was saying, 'Lord, you have ignored me long enough'. Maybe we have thought the same thing but were too afraid to say it out loud? Yes, David did have his troubles, as we do too.

But if you look at the last two verses of the psalm, you find David has changed his tune. His troubles have not gone away — there are always troubles and difficulties to be faced. But David's view of God has changed; he remembers the relationship he has with God, and God's unchanging love for him, and the salvation God has given him, and just how good God has been to him in so many ways.

So what does he do? He says, "I will sing to the Lord". Yes, the troubles are still there but David's focus is not now on them but on God who is with him in the troubles. There's a good lesson there for you and me.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I can be so impatient with you. Forgive me and help me to focus on you and not on my wants. Amen.