As Karissa Smith was browsing in a local library with her babbling
4-month-old daughter, an older man rudely told her to quiet her baby or he
would. Smith responded, “I am very sorry for whatever in your life caused you
to be so disturbed by a happy baby, but I will not tell my
baby to shut up, and I will not let you do so either.” The man put his head
down and apologized, and told her the story of how his son died of Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome over 50 years ago. He had repressed his grief and anger
all those years.
In Psalm 13, David expressed his grief. He addressed God with raw and
honest language: “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will
You hide Your face from me?” (v.1). These questions reflected fears of
abandonment. David’s language of distress gave way to a plea for help and
reaffirmation of his faith in God’s love for him (vv.3-6). Confidence and firm
resolve came alongside the cry of distress.
We all go through dark nights of the soul when we wonder if God has
abandoned us. As with David, our aching can give way to joy when we approach
God honestly, plead for help, and reaffirm our trust in a God whose love for us
will never waver or change.
God will never leave us nor forsake us. (RBC)
