When will help arrive?
If you've ever called for an ambulance, you probably know how it feels to be anxiously waiting for help. When will take to arrive? What is taking so long? Do they not think my problem is important? Have they forgotten me? Five minutes can seem like 5 hours when you're desperate.
In Psalm 38, David calls out for help. He has done the wrong thing and he seeks forgiveness, but also asks for God's help to get out of his mess...
Psalm 38:4
4My guilt has overwhelmed melike a burden too heavy to bear.
He is overwhelmed. And repentant. But in despair.
Psalm 38:9
9All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
His life lies open before God but he feels his enemies are closing in on him, and he is desperate:
Psalm 38:12
12Those who want to kill me set their traps,those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.
Where is God? He calls out but where is the answer he is looking for? How long will he need to wait? He is confident that God will answer, but when?
Psalm 38:15
15 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.
And we expect to hear the Psalm end like all good TV shows - with a resolution. But this is where it ends:
Psalm 38:21-22
21 Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. 22Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.
The Psalm ends with the expectation of help and rescue. And David does expect this. But it doesn't happen. Yet.
Many of us in today's society have become expectant of our needs and wants being answered quickly. We are frustrated when we have to wait for an ambulance, but even when we have to wait in line at the supermarket, or at a set of traffic lights. We are impatient and expect to have our needs seen to promptly. But David reminds us in this Psalm that although we can expect God to answer us when we come to him in need, in repentance, or in grief, we cannot expect him to meet our personal timetable. Some struggles are not resolved at the end of the day. Some struggles do not have a neat solution. Sometimes God knows us and loves us so much that he allows us to go through suffering longer than we want or expect. And this is always because he knows what is best for us.
So what do we do when we are left waiting on God's answer, or God's deliverance? As David did, we keep trusting, we keep praying, we keep depending on Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
There are many things that are not resolved in our lives today. In particular, I bring before you <this current trouble I am facing>. Please deliver me from this struggle. And as I wait on you, and your perfect timing, please give me patience, trust and confidence in your answer and in your timing.
Amen.