By “How long will I feel like I am forgotten by God?!”
“When will sadness no more dominate my day?!”
“Why do the wicked keep getting their way?!”
These are not uncommon thoughts for believers living daily in this sin-cursed world. Not surprisingly, they are not uncommon in God’s Word either. The Bible is indeed God’s word for reality—be it the spiritual realities of His existence, glory and work in us, or our own experiences of this world. The questions above, which are really more statements of lament than questions, are merely a paraphrase of the first two verses of Psalm 13.
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
Psalm 13:1-2
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Though we, rightfully so, pour out our heart of lament to the LORD, we also call out to Him for our reprieve.
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
Psalm 13:3-4
In fact, once our lament of our troubles have been comforted by our plea to the LORD, we realise the strength of our faith in Him and His love, salvation, and provision. These truths do not negate our sorrows, but they do restore to us an anticipation of joy.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5-6
I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Praise God that our trust is not in men of wicked intent, but our trust is in the LORD of love and grace. Though we cannot help but lament at the thought of the wicked, we also cannot help but rejoice in the great love of our God.
These mere six verses give us a model to imitate when overcome by personal sorrow and depression.