Don't Fail Me Now!

From time to time, I wonder, mostly to myself, are things ever going to change? Is it ever going to get better? Will I ever get out of this hole? Will I ever overcome this adversity? Will I ever have triumph over my enemy? In this life, I mean? I know that there is a bright and far better future awaiting me and all those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ, a future whose retirement benefits are out of this world, a future where all is well and good, where there will be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, and no more pain, where the former things will all have passed away.

But that day is not today. Today, I'm living in a messed up world. My past is a mixture of successes and failures, gains and losses, victories and defeats. I'm still saved. I'm still serving the Lord. But sometimes I'm as messed up as the world around me. And some days in my fleshly carnality, I wonder, "Are you there God? It's me. Stupid."

Fortunately for me, I'm in good company. The man after God's own heart apparently felt the same way. For he wrote these words in Psalm 13:

How long, O Lord?

Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

Having sorrow in my heart daily?

How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

David was at a time and place in his life where he was feeling forgotten and forsaken by God, and forever defeated by his enemy. There are times in our life where it seems nothing will go right. The whole world is turning upside down right on top of our heads, and we can't win for losing. There are days when it seems like I can't do anything right because I'm doing everything wrong. Surely I'm not the only one, but there it is. How long can this go on? Will it ever end?

I believe it will! David believed it would. He knew that God was not going to leave him to be destroyed by his enemies. He knew that God was not really gone, that he was not really forgotten. David knew that God would emerge just the right moment and make His awesome presence known. How I look forward to that day! Until then, I can only do what David did:

But I have trusted in Your mercy;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,

Because He has dealt bountifully with me!