SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
I
Am Not Forgotten
Read: Psalm 13
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. —Psalm 33:20
Waiting
is hard at any time; but when days, weeks, or even months pass and our prayers
seem to go unanswered, it’s easy to feel God has forgotten us. Perhaps we can
struggle through the day with its distractions, but at night it’s doubly
difficult to deal with our anxious thoughts. Worries loom large, and the dark
hours seem endless. Utter weariness makes it look impossible to face the new
day.
The
psalmist grew weary as he waited (Ps. 13:1). He felt abandoned—as if his
enemies were gaining the upper hand (v.2). When we’re waiting for God to
resolve a difficult situation or to answer often-repeated prayers, it’s easy to
get discouraged.
Satan
whispers that God has forgotten us, and that things will never change. We may
be tempted to give in to despair. Why bother to read the Bible or to pray? Why
make the effort to worship with fellow believers in Christ? But we need our
spiritual lifelines most when we’re waiting. They help to hold us steady in the
flow of God’s love and to become sensitive to His Spirit.
The
psalmist had a remedy. He focused on all that he knew of God’s love, reminding
himself of past blessings and deliberately praising God, who would not forget
him. So can we.
Lover of my soul, who
draws close
in the darkest and
longest night, please
keep me trusting You,
talking to You,
and leaning on Your
promises.
God
is worth waiting for; His time is always best.
Insight
All
believers go through times of frustration due to unanswered prayer. Yet the
scriptures provide hope for this apparent dilemma. Psalm 13 illustrates the
release that grows out of praying through a problem. David asks God four times
“how long” he must wait to get an answer to prayer (vv.1-2). Eventually he
understands that his perspective has not been a divine one. He then asks God to
“give light to my eyes” so that he can have the strength to endure opposition
(vv.3-4). David redirects his heart to trust in God’s unfailing mercy. The
Hebrew word for “mercy” here is hesed, which connotes enduring, unfailing, and
gracious care. With a new perspective, David now sings of God’s goodness with
petitions of praise (vv.5-6).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
