How long? It is a question I ask too. When my future stretches blankly before me. When I am tired of waiting. When I wonder how many hurdles are still awaiting me. Just tell me! My mom recently reminded me that I have always hated to wait, to not know.
It helps to see my impatience and frustration mirrored in the pages of the Bible.
My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Psalm 6:3
How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? Psalm 13:1
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?Psalm 13:2
O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions
Psalm 35:17
How long, O LORD ? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? Psalm 89:46
How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?Psalm 119:84
How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Habakkuk 1:2
They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Revelation 6:10
And some hints of an answer...
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem..., how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! Luke 13:34
You, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18
"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Exodus 14:13
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "2 Chron 20
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3:11
...and how long till I get to come and visit you again, I ask! A very meaningful treatise on waiting and not knowing, born of the fire. Looking forward to your life "answers"! M6
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! Patience is often elusive.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew how long, too
ReplyDelete