How long?

Coping with disappointment

Psalms 13:1  ¶<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>>

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

3  Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4  Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

How many of us ask “How long?” to the Lord?

Are we weary and disappointed? Have our expectations not been met? Have we had a sudden unexpected loss,

failure or dejection? Are we deeply upset and wounded? Do we feel our problems do not come to an

end? Do we ask the Lord “How long?”

Lets learn from the life of David

He is down flat on his face; focuses on his misery and suffering

He is then down on his knee He finally gets up rejoicing on his feet

Initially, we are like David in his psalms of lament.

Psalms 13:1  ¶<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>>

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Psalms 42 

3  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?

6  ¶O my God, my soul is cast down within me:

Psalms 43

2  For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?

David: a man after God’s own heart! He created adultery and murder? Yet more is written about David than any

other character, his name is written more than any other human name

He wanted to honor God. (1 Samuel 17:26  And David spake to the

men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?)

He feared God. (1 Samuel 24:6  And he said unto his men, The

LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.)

He had a soul that could be touched with truth. He was unafraid to admit his transgressions. He broke his own heart by his lapses of spirituality.

He always went to God first in times of trouble and in all situations.

He found joy and restoration in God He trusted God

David knew that God was the best thing in his life

Psalms 16:2I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart

from you I have no good thing.”

Who is God in your life? Psalms 136:

1  ¶O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever

Psalms 136: 1  ¶Howduw la-Yahweh,

kiy- Towb! Kiy lª|owlaam chacdow.

2  Howduw lee-'Eloheey haa'ªlohiym! Kiy lª|owlaam chacdow.

3  Howduw la-'Adoneey haa'ªdoniym! Kiy lª|olaam chacdow.

Who is God? Yahweh:

“The all becoming God” (I am) He is my sufficiency, He becomes all that I need.

Elohiym: “Almighty God”(strong one) He holds me and will never let me go.

Adonai: “Sovereign God” (master) My life is in His hands, no matter what the

situation.

My guru’s mantras

Saturate yourself in the Word of God Saturate yourself in the Love of God Saturate yourself in the Sovereignty of God

David gets on his knees

A. DAVID WENT STRAIGHT TO THE LORD

Psalms 13 2  How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

3  Consider and hear me, O LORD my God

Psalms 42 1  As the hart panteth after the water brooks,

so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:

when shall I come and appear before God? 5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art

thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

7  Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psalms 43 4  ….I (will) go unto the altar of God… 5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and

why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God…

B. David remembered and trusted on God’s faithfulness

Psalms 13 5  But I have trusted in thy mercy

Psalms 42 4  …I remember these things 6  …therefore will I remember thee from the

land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Psalms 43 2  For thou art the God of my strength. 5  God… is the health of my countenance.

David is up on his feet Psalms 13

5  my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt

bountifully with me. Psalms 42

4  I went ….with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Psalms 43 4  Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my

exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

This Year :God will change your sorrows into Joy

Isaiah 61: 1  ¶The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD

hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Psalm 13

I've being looking for the day-break, hoping for a respite, wishing to sing a new song.

But God, You are hidden, and I have been forgotten, and everything seems to be wrong!

I've been losing my battles, falling flat on my face, not being able to get along.

While my rivals they prosper and do well, I just seem to be sulking and asking you,

LORD, HOW LONG???

Now I am on my knees LORD, calling to You Lord, hoping that You will hear.

Listen to me LORD, open my eyes Lord, and bring me to You near!

The enemy is gloating, and seems to be boasting that he has the best of me,

Isn't it time we reminded him, that ours is a team-work and the force to reckon is WE!

I am trusting in You Lord, and my foot steps are cleared Lord, for a tune, for a song, for a dance!

You have lifted my heart Lord, restored my joy Lord, and made my bounty enhance.

Lets sing………

I'm trading my sorrowsi'm trading my shamei'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

i'm trading my sicknessi'm trading my paini'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

We say yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lordyes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lordyes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord, amen

I am pressed but not crushedpersecuted, but not abandonedstruck down, but not destroyedi am blessed beyond the curse,for His promise will endureand His joy will be my strength

though the sorrow may last for the nightHis joy comes with the morning.

I'm trading my sorrowsi'm trading my shamei'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

i'm trading my sicknessi'm trading my paini'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

We say yes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lordyes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lordyes Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord, amen (2x)

I am pressed but not crushedpersecuted, but not abandonedstruck down, but not destroyedi am blessed beyond the curse,for His promise will endureand His joy is going to be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the nightHis joy comes with the morning.

I'm trading my sorrowsi'm trading my shamei'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

i'm trading my sicknessi'm trading my paini'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord (2x)