Message summary: We want an answer to the “how long” question, but so very often we don’t get it.

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“My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?” (Psalm 6:3). “How long must your servant wait?” (Psalm 119:84). “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Our daughter Ester has developed a good eye for photography. She takes most photos with her phone but when she gets serious she uses a Canon Rebel Digital SLR  camera that Betsey, a friend from California, passed on to her several years ago. Her biggest asset (and ours as well) is living in the age of digital photography when you can take lots and lots of photos and instantly look at them, greatly increasing the odds that some will turn out really nice.

I (Stephen) took photography class in high school in the early 70's and we even developed our own photos in a dark room on campus. My first camera was a Minolta SRT 101 single lens reflex camera which I bought for what seemed a fortune during high school.

We old-timers remember when we paid for both the film roll and development and, due to the expense, we might take only one or at most two photos of any subject. Then you would wait until the roll was used up, take it to be developed and then wait some more! Then you finally got to see how your photos came out: closed eyes, people looking in opposite directions, blurry results, but hopefully a few outstanding ones as well.

In my childhood my very thrifty mom waited, perhaps months, till the next special occasion when we could finish the roll. Since our family camera was used infrequently that took months, perhaps a year or more. And then you waited for a sale on the development or sent it in the mail which took at least two or more weeks to get them back! As much as we want to go back to the good old days there are many ways where the new and improved is so much more desirable.

Though we don't wait any longer to see results of our photo sessions there is a lot of waiting in life as we wait out the development of particular situations, possible opportunities and that of our own physical, mental and spiritual development.

Today we consider many of our brothers and sisters who are in a waiting period. For so many there are various agonizing "wait" aspects in our lives.

Some twenty-two times (depending on version) the Psalmist pleaded with the Lord, “How long?” But in each instance he never received a specific answer. We have an assurance, a promise from God, that it will ultimately work out, but we just don’t know when.

Today many of us are crying out, "How long, O Lord" for various reasons. We see before our very eyes the creation groaning as in the pains of childbirth (see Romans 8:22). Wars, hatred, deceptions, frailty: all are reminders of the fallen world we live in. The "how long?" quandary deals not only with conflict all throughout the world but also the specific issues that are personal to us. On my heart this morning is a friend in North Carolina dealing with pancreatic cancer.

Let us consider also the bigger picture in the cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil: between the one true Triune God and the ancient enemy who continues to oppose Him. We're especially reminded that we are on the winning side with this verse, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

But for now the "wait" remains. On the personal level it may be a vexing job situation or a frustrated search for work.  It may be a chronic illness or the lingering pain from the loss of a loved one. For others there’s what seems like endless family strife. We want an answer to the “how long” question, but so very often we don’t get it.

Paul made his “How long” experience very public. He was troubled by a “thorn in the flesh” and had cried out to God for healing and deliverance repeatedly. His specific prayer was not answered as Paul had hoped, but God did speak to him, and thankfully, he recorded God's response so that we could read it two thousand years later and still make application for our own "How long?" questions.

God's answer was not exactly what Paul was hoping for, but it brought him hope for his dilemma and it has brought hope, strength and courage to millions over the years while they’ve waited. I pray that it will also encourage fellow waiters today. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness".

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber