How Long, O Lord? Will You Forget Me Forever?

Have you ever lived through a season in your life that was dark and wearisome? Have you ever found yourself longing for relief and asking, “How long, Lord?” Maybe you’re in one of those seasons right now.

One of my favorite people in the Bible is a man named David. He was a shepherd boy turned king. God called him a man after His own heart. But David struggled through many dark and wearisome seasons in life.

During one such season, he complained, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?” (Psalm 13:1-2).

David’s difficult season of life had tarried too long and he was so over it! His heart was burdened with sorrow and he prayed earnestly for relief.

It is normal for any human, when trouble lasts a long while, to think that it will last always. When we have long been without joy and hope, it’s easy to fall into complaining, but what we must do is fall into prayer.

This is what David did and he experienced a shift in perspective, “But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6).

As David fell on his knees and brought his complaints and burdens before the throne of mercy, God helped him believe again. He strengthened David’s faith and reminded him of his goodness.

Though life still felt hard and looked dark for David, he rose from his knees with confidence, knowing that a new season would surely come.

Dear friend, if you can bring your big problems to the feet of Jesus and leave them there, he will lift up your weary head to see that he is bigger. He will help you climb from your pit of despair back to solid ground where confidence and joy abound. God is faithful to carry you through every difficult season. Sometimes relief will come quickly, other times slowly. But a new season of life will surely come. We will find that our complaints were unnecessary, and we will acknowledge that the Lord, indeed, has been good to us. Praise him today!

Anna Frye is a speaker, author, television host and founder of the Chosen and Crowned tribe. She invites moms and wives to celebrate imperfect progress fueled by the grace of a perfect God. She helps women bravely talk about the messy places of life, instead of hiding shamefully under them. She believes that lasting beauty comes when women courageously surrender their ashes to God and allow him to do something mind-blowingly amazing with them. If this resonates with you, then you belong with the Chosen and Crowned tribe. Connect at www.ChosenAndCrowned.com/blog