Psalm 13

The cry of 'How long?' is one of the most universal human experiences, and Psalm 13 gives us a framework for what to do with that pain. There is a critical difference between grumbling, which is complaining away from or against God, and lament, which is bringing that same pain directly to Him. Lament does not deny that things are broken. It takes the brokenness honestly before the Father and opens the door to experiencing His presence even when circumstances have not changed. Psalm 13 moves through three distinct phases: a godward complaint, a godward request, and a godward declaration of trust. The remarkable truth is that the anguish of 'how long' and the declaration of trust can coexist in the same breath. God's covenant love, rooted in His unchanging character and displayed most clearly through the cross of Jesus Christ, is the foundation on which that trust stands. You do not have to wait for the valley to end before you can trust in His faithful love.