"When is this going to stop?"

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Sometimes kids do things that make us laugh and sometimes they do things that make us think.  Awhile back, a delightful three-year old I know did both.  It was during a special service at church where the children were sitting up at the altar for part of it.  The particular thing that made me laugh and think was during the prayers of the people when part way through she said, in a not so quiet voice, "When is this going to stop?" 


Now, she was just expressing how she felt ('this is going on way too long') and that made me smile.  But why did this get me thinking?  Basically because her words struck a chord.  Isn't that what is underneath many of the prayers that we pray and pray and pray?  The prayers that we keep bringing to God over the weeks, months and years.  The prayers that haven't been answered yet.  The prayers that are often prayed in tears or anger. We want to know when the pain or suffering or trial or war or illness or ______________  (you fill in the blank) is going to stop.  We want to know how much longer we have to endure.  King David can relate.

Psalm 13

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
 and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?


3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me

So what do we say to that little girl?  What could I have said to her?  Perhaps - "I don't know when this prayer time is going to end, but I know it will.... hang on."  And this is what we can say to ourselves when we wonder how long we are going to have to keep praying the same prayers.  "Hold on... it will end... be patient... don't give up."


I like Psalm 13 because it models to us the honesty of lament (verses 1-2), perseverance in prayer (verses 3-4), and exercising our faith through trust and worship in the midst of those hard times (verse 5-6).  Even if we find one of these easier than the other two, I think we need all three as we endure.  Consider what you are praying for, what you are crying out to God for.  Are you honest with Him about how you feel?  Do you keep asking Him to answer?  Are you able to still say, "But I trust You Lord?"  If one of those stands out as something you are not able to do, a suggestion is that you ask God right now to help you to do that and then use Psalm 13 as a guide to pray.
May the Lord give you grace and strength through whatever you face today.
Tracy

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