When My Prayer is “How long?”…
I related to this picture Ron took on one of his recent photo excursions.
I hope you won’t mind me being vulnerable for a moment. You see, I really, truly dislike whining, and at times vulnerability feels whiny, even though I know that is not truth, and I rarely hold others to my standard.
The last several months have been difficult for me on a variety of fronts. Like the little house on the prairie in Ron’s photo, I’ve often felt old, worn out, and in need of some major renovation. I see the path in the distance. I believe God leads in good and right paths. But those prickly barbs in the fence have daunted my passage to the other side.
Okay, enough vulnerability!
This morning, my devotional reading led me to Psalm 13, a short passage in which the psalmist David is vulnerable with God and ‘whined,’
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”
I admit, I prefer, “Thank You, God!” prayers rather than “How long?” prayers!
I like to accomplish tasks.
I like to see results.
I like to experience answers to prayers.
This morning, though, while hanging out with the psalmist, I realized how discouraged I had become because of one particular “How long?” prayer.
David, despite his distress, concludes with words which resonate in my soul:
But I trust in your unfailing love;
My heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the LORD’s praise,
For he has been good to me.
(Psalm 13:5 & 6 NIV)
Before I began writing today’s post, I searched for a good quote to go with Ron’s photo and liked one by Seneca, a First Century philosopher. Since I want to know at least a bit about those I quote and knew little about Seneca, I read some biographical information. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to use his words, and then I read another of his quotes, which I liked even more. Seneca advised wisely,
…Choose someone whose way of life as well as words, and whose very face as mirroring the character that lies behind it, have won your approval. Be always pointing him out to yourself either as your guardian or as your model. There is a need, in my view, for someone as a standard against which our characters can measure themselves. Without a ruler to do it against you won’t make crooked straight.
Seneca undoubtedly was not a follower of Jesus, but my first thought when I read his words was:
The someone I choose is Jesus. His way of life, his words, everything about Jesus have won my approval. He has more than once made my “crooked straight.”
Today, in closing, I want to point to Jesus, who declared boldly about himself:
I am the way; I am the truth; I am the life. (See John 14:6)
Have you, like me, been feeling kind of discouraged? Have you wondered,
or prayed, “How long?”.
If so, I hope these few words will encourage you and kindle hope, even as they have for me.
