We've all been there. We're sitting at the red light and wondering "how long?" We're waiting in line at Whataburger (one of the slowest fast food places but certainly could be the most delicious) and say to ourselves, "how long?" We sit in church and we're thinking about how hungry we are or the Cowboys game and mutter "how long are you gonna keep us in here pastor?"
We have become more and more impatient. No doubt about it. Everything is quick and fast nowadays. We want our fast food, our fast internet, our fast friendships. Uh huh. You know. My generation is a perfect example of impatience. We have grown up in it. I have found myself many times being impatient, however, it can look different than others. I find myself being more impatient with myself and with God.
Sometimes I can feel like I just whine to God. "How long will it take God? How long until You show up?"
I'm very thankful that I'm not the only one that does/did this. One of my favorite persons ever did this. ALL. THE. TIME. and God called him the apple of His eye.
David. I believe the reason God called David the apple of His eye is because he was always so real with God. It was a relationship. David showed God every emotion. I'm sure that painted a beautiful picture to God since He did create ALL emotions and feels them as well. David would dance, weep, and would be filled up with righteous anger because the evil of the men around him. God related with David. It was sweet to Him to relate with His son David.
I read a psalm by David this morning and immediately connected and related with emotion.
Psalm 13. "How long, O Lord?"..."Look on me and answer, O Lord my God."
David was facing many enemies. Now, I know today our enemies might look a bit different than David's were, but for some they may look the same. We're facing the enemy of all that's good everyday. He comes like a roaring lion. He comes to devour you. David asks God, "How long" over and over. Filled with such sorrow and loneliness he cries out to God. The greatest person to cry out to.
And at the end of His sorrowful song to the Lord David says...
"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."
We have a choice to make. At the end of our cry out to God we can choose to TRUST and REJOICE or we can crumble with fear and still ask the same questions. God is the God who SEES. He sees you and He hears your prayers. It's okay to whine and cry out to your Father. He loves to see you feel with all emotion, because He does the same thing. He weeps with you. He rejoices with you. Righteous anger against evil.
Will you choose to go into the same pattern of asking "How long?" That's okay. God is patient with you and will weep with you. But what greater joy we have when we TRUST in His unfailing love for us. He is not holding out on you. He's protecting you. He's building you up in due time.
Trust and Rejoice.
