“How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” Psalm 13:1
Some of the early church fathers called it the dark night of the soul; periods of time when God seemed silent. Likely each of us can relate: moments when God doesn’t feel near; when prayers seem to echo back unanswered.
Obviously king David had such experiences in that we see his raw honesty reflected in this Psalm. Rather than hiding his feelings, he brought them directly to God in this heartfelt Psalm and prayer. No less than four times in the opening verses of Psalm 13 we hear him pleading, “how long?” But, having voiced his complaint, David moved on:
“But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” Psalm 13:5
Although nothing had changed in David’s circumstances, he moved from questioning to trusting. Amidst doubt and uncertainty, David was drawn back to the legacy of God’s covenant love expressed to him in the past. As David exemplified, faith is not the absence of questions, but rather the decision to trust God while the questions remain unanswered.
“Father, when You feel distant, help me not to withdraw, but to draw near with honesty. Anchor my heart in Your steadfast love, even when I don’t understand. Teach me to trust You in the silence. Amen.”
©Steve Taylor, 2026 --Used by permission
Be sure to also see Amazon ebook & print devotional and podcast: New Day Dawning.