How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, and my enemy will say, "I have prevailed"; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:1-6

Have you ever been at the base of a mountain and looked up? Instead of seeing the top you just see clouds at the top. You know the top is there. You just can’t see the top because it is so high.

David was the same way. His life was not always sunny, and his view of God was not always clear. By praying, David knew that God was there taking care of him, because God had done that in the past. Christians can sometimes be like the person at the base of the mountain. They know God is there. They just don’t see Him all the time. When suffering or confusion obscures our view of God, we can be honest with others about our doubts. But we can also express our confidence that the LORD is still there by recalling times we have witnessed His grandeur and goodness.

When living under clouds of adversity,

remember that the sun is still shining.

Our Daily Bread – May 10, 2004