When God Makes a Short Story Long
by Kelly Rundell
“It should have been one surgery and done, but now it has been 3 surgeries followed by an entire year of physical therapy recovering from this. Is this debilitating pain just part of my new normal now?”
“I thought my panic attacks would subside after the stressful deadline at work ended, but it has been 6 months and I still feel my chest close, and my breath get short out of nowhere – is this how I am to live forever?”
“The depression was not just for a season or even a year. It has now been like an old unwanted guest that will never fully leave. Will I ever experience life without the constant threat of dark clouds on the horizon?”
“The strain on our family has been unbearable for as long as I can remember. The broken connection with our daughter has not gotten any better, and I am starting to feel as though we have lost our once close family forever. Are we to just function with a living death in the family?”
“I have struggled with this issue for what feels like my whole life. Will I never be done with it? I have tried so many things, and I am just exhausted with myself! So tired of fighting what feels like an unwinnable war with my own heart.”
“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?” Psalm 13:1
We can all relate to some scenario where we felt pushed past our limit. It can be due to a long-standing trial or a (forever-fighting) fight with sin. Sometimes it is a trial we saw coming, but did not expect to last so.very.long. Or, to take so.very.heavy. a toll on our lives.
An intense trial can take us by surprise, whether it is a family-altering break in a dearly loved relationship, or a life-changing health issue that brings new and painful limitations to our lives. It can be when we feel weary all over from a fight against that old foe of our heart, and our persistent work, hope, and faith just can’t seem to vanquish it.
In whichever scenario the suffering comes, some of the more devastating parts can be from how long it goes on.
Where have you felt the cry of “How long, oh Lord?”
I have walked alongside many people who have (understandably so) cried out to the Lord in an anguished "How long?" I have felt it myself, and in some ways, I still do feel it.
What hope is there to be found when the road we thought would have an end seems it might go on into the distance forever?
In what follows, I hope to give you two truths and one shift that I have found brings fresh endurance to the weary, and provides me hope in the midst of trials too long.
Isaiah 55:8–11
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Truth #1: The Lord is unsearchably higher than we are in His being, thoughts, and ways (vs 8–9)
The Lord’s thoughts are not our thoughts. The Lord’s ways are not our ways. In fact, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways and thoughts above ours.
Abraham did not know what the Lord was thinking when He asked him to sacrifice Isaac, but he knew what God had promised. He knew God was higher.
The exiting Israelites could never have predicted the Lord opening up the Red Sea.
Jonah could never have dreamed of a big fish rescue.
The disciples did not understand Jesus’ plan, even after He explained it.
We are small creatures, and even the brightest of us cannot come near to the vast thoughts and ways of our God.
The indisputable truth that God is higher than us like the heavens above the earth is a truth that can answer the question “Why?” or “How long, O Lord?”
God doesn’t give us the game plan, but He gives us something far richer:
Himself.
He gives us the Master of all plans.
He gives us rest in the unknown through His compassionate sovereignty.
Truth #2: God will provide what is needed to accomplish His (higher than we comprehend) purpose (vs 10–11)
The Lord gives us beautiful pictures of nature to illustrate how He provides:
Rain and snow come down from heaven to water the earth.
That water causes sprouting, seed for sowing, and bread for eating.
The Lord is our perfect provider.
When the road is long, when we know our strength is not enough, we have great assurance. He will provide faith, love, and hope (1 Thessalonians 1:2–3). Even greater—He has already provided our deepest need: forgiveness and reconciliation to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18–19).
The Shift: From seeking rest in answers, to finding rest in Who God is and What He has done
The answer that finally gives Job peace is not why it happened or when it would end.
“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” — Job 42:5
Job repents. He asks no more questions. His wrestling ends in peace—not because he understands, but because he sees God.
The Psalmist of Psalm 88 cries to the one who saves him:
“O Lord, God of my salvation” — Psalm 88:1
And finally, we have the gospel:
“He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities,
upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5
We are deeply loved and completely cared for, even in our hardest seasons.
Because of who God is, and what He has done, we can answer with Paul:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare His only Son, but gave Him up for us all,
how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” — Romans 8:31–32
“All things” does not mean an end to suffering, but it does mean that the God who gave His life for us will provide all we need to endure.
He gives us Himself, and that is all we ultimately need.
Final Thoughts
I know this doesn’t make the pain go away or the weariness cease.
I wish I could take that from myself or others, but I can’t.
My heart for anyone suffering through a long and weary trial is this:
May the Lord lift your weary soul to see Him who loves you so deeply that it brings hope to the darkest valleys.
He is the light before, during, and at the end of the tunnel.
Draw near to Him today, and find your rest as His beloved child.
For Further Study:
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament: Mark Vroegop, Tada, Joni Eareckson: 9781433561481: Amazon.com: Books
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