How Long Must We Wait?

          In my readings I am currently going through Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and Acts.  Today out of Psalms for a change something stuck with me even though I had some good reading in the others as well.  Psalm 40 hit a cord with me especially after the prayer room service yesterday as I sat with different individuals.

          We all go through times of suffering and usually during those times we may start to wonder if this is all ever going to end.  If you are going through a rough time right now then you can relate.  The hard times never last forever and you eventually recover from them.  So the question then becomes, how long must I wait to get through this and why is God putting me through all of this.  I found the answer in today’s readings.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.

          So from these verses we can see that we must be patient and faithful to the Lord and know that He hears our cry.  In His timing then He will step forward and deliver us from our suffering.  The verse goes on to give us some insight as to why God would let us suffer.

Psalm 40:3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

          Now through our suffering others will come to believe and turn to God.  So who are we to complain if God wants to turn someone else to Him through our suffering?  Is this not a noble cause and perhaps worth a little suffering on our part?  A few verses latter in verse 10 it talks about our response once we are delivered from our suffering.

Psalm 40:10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

          We are not to keep our mouth shut and just continue on as if nothing has happened worth talking about.  We are to give credit where credit is due and let others know that is was not through our own doing that we have been delivered from suffering, but only by the power of a great, powerful, and loving God.