I’ve spent years asking God to allow me to become a mother. Whether through conception or adoption, the request has always been the same:
God, I'm ready to be a mom.
I’ve prayed those prayers so many times that, In the deepest valleys, it sometimes feels like God isn’t even listening.
Maybe David was feeling the same way about his prayers when he wrote Psalm 13:
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?”
Psalm 13:1-2
David felt forgotten and abandoned. He was filled with sorrow because it seemed like God was ignoring him in his distress. David's enemies were hunting him down, and he was begging God to deliver him:
"Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him,'
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken."
Psalm 13:3-4
David was fearing for his very life. Perhaps he wrote this psalm when he was fleeing Saul or his son Absalom. Regardless, David had a deep longing for safety and victory. David's desire for good to triumph over evil was a righteous one, yet, his prayers had yet to be answered. He wondered if God had forgotten him. How much longer was it going to take for God to answer?
That’s a feeling I can relate to as I continue to wait for motherhood after four years of praying for children. I know that my desire to be a parent is a good one, so as my prayers remain unanswered, I sometimes worry that God isn't listening, or has forgotten me. I wonder how much longer it will be before i welcome a child into my home and heart.
You may not have experienced infertility, but you might have another prayer that you have been waiting on God to answer. Maybe you’re hoping for a healed body or a restored relationship. Perhaps you're asking for financial provision or for the salvation of a loved one. Like David, you may find yourself asking: God, have you forgotten about me? Are you even listening? How much longer do I have to wait?
But David's Psalm doesn't end with anxiety and doubt. Though he is filled with sorrow and fear, David is reassured by meditating on God's love, salvation, and abundant provision:
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalm 13:5-6
In these final verses, David reminded himself of what he already knew of God's character. The remembrance of God's goodness renewed his faith and filled him with joy, even though his prayer was not yet answered.
In the same way, we must meditate on our Creator. We must preach the Gospel to ourselves and fill our hearts with God's word, our faith and joy will return, even when our prayers remain unanswered.
Our Father in Heaven is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and overflowing with steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). God's power and righteousness are beyond what we can even fathom, yet still, Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf gives us access to a richly intimate relationship with him. If these realities deeply penetrate our hearts and minds, we will grow to trust him more and have confidence that God’s provision is perfect, even when it seems painfully slow. We may still wonder how much longer until our prayers are answered, but, like David, we will rejoice because we know that we are loved, saved, and abundantly provided for, even as we wait for God.
Respond
How do you keep the knowledge of God's love, salvation, and provision fresh in your mind and heart throughout your day? How does it impact your attitude toward God and the things you pray for?
