“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1
I had just been laid off from my dream job due to budget cuts. And I had no idea what the next step would be. Even though I had applied for countless positions, and even had a few different offers, nothing was a good fit. Meanwhile, the bills were piling up, and because my husband was in school full-time, it was up to me to make sure we could eat and pay the rent.
Needless to say, I was stressed. And I felt totally alone, like God had forgotten about me. I spent many sleepless nights, crying out to Him, pleading for a job.
Then, I read Psalm 13. “How long, Lord?” The phrase reflected my anxiety, my impatience, my stomach-churning. “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” How long will this not-knowing go on? How long will I be unemployed? How long will our savings last?
The beautiful thing about this Psalm is that David, the writer, doesn’t stop at hopelessness. Though he’s brutally honest with God about where he’s at, he ends with this:
“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
The truth is, God provides. He provided in this situation, but not before I learned to trust Him. He taught me to give Him praise — even when it wasn’t easy, when things weren’t working out the way I thought they should. During that time, I read Psalm 13 almost every day, and through it, God taught me to give thanks and praise Him, regardless of my circumstances.
Dear God, thank You that You want to hear from us about the good, the bad, and the ugly in our lives. Thank You that we can trust You with everything, and help us to be able to give thanks, no matter how hopeless we might feel. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Take Action
Are you engulfed in hopelessness today? Be like David, and tell God how you really feel. But don’t stop there: give thanks to God and recognize His faithfulness and goodness.
Go Deeper: Read Trusting God Though the Seasons of Life.