How Long?

How Long?

Bible: Psalm 13:1-6

Reading

How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? (V.1)

A mass shooting, an acid attack, the murder of a child. All these things were on my news feed on my phone. I felt so sad and helpless as I thought about all those broken lives.

Like the psalm writer David, I thought, “How long, God?” David asked, “How long, Lord? … How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (PSALM 13:1-2). How long will You let evil go unpunished and allow innocent people to suffer?

I’m not alone in my questions. All creation is affected by the wrongness and brokenness of the world. Paul says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth” (ROMANS 8:22). Since sin entered this world, nothing is as it was created to be. But the ultimate victory has been won! One day Jesus will make all things right and destroy the devil (REVELATION 20:10). Until that day, there is a reason we have to wait. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 PETER 3:9). He wants us to have unending life with Him!

God will one day bring an end to suffering, but until then we can say with David, “I trust in [His] unfailing love” and “sing the Lord’s praise” (PSALM 13:5-6). God hasn’t forgotten us.

SUFFERING WILL NOT HAVE THE LAST WORD.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries