“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1)
Have you ever felt forgotten by God? Perhaps your health has declined, your work situation is unstable, or family struggles seem endless. In times like these, it’s easy to wonder if God is paying attention. Even the strongest believers have moments of discouragement, despair, or depression. David knew this feeling well. His prayer in Psalm 13 shows us how to find hope when it feels like God is looking away.
After being anointed as Israel’s next king, David found himself fleeing from Saul for several years. When David felt ignored and abandoned by God, he didn’t mask his pain but poured it out honestly before the Lord. Of course, God already knows every thought and feeling we have. Yet bringing them to Him opens the door for direction and healing because we invite God’s comfort into our struggles.
David’s struggle wasn’t only external; internally, he battled with overwhelming thoughts. He writes, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day?” (Psalm 13:2). David was stuck in his own head, consumed with anxious thoughts that led to discouragement and despair.
When we fixate on our problems, we become our own worst enemy. Much of our anxiety comes from dwelling on things outside our control. Worrying won’t change our circumstances (Luke 12:25); it only drains our strength. And most of what we worry about never happens anyway. Isolating ourselves in anxious thoughts and worst-case scenarios makes things worse.
So, how do you find hope when you feel forgotten by God? Follow David’s example and pray honestly. Don’t whine but genuinely seek God. Recognize which concerns are beyond your control and release those anxieties to the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Finally, don’t isolate. We are created for community. Seek the fellowship and encouragement of other believers who can pray with you and for you.
Christians aren’t immune to discouragement, despair, and depression. But we also have everything we need in Christ to overcome those things. If you feel as though you can’t take any more, know this: God has not forgotten you. He is working, even when you can’t see it. In our next devotion, we will see how David prayed his way into renewed hope and trust in the Lord.
