How Long, O Lord?

READ 2 SAMUEL 1 (The death of Saul and Jonathan); PSALM 13

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.

How long, O Lord?
Wailing Wall, Jerusalem.  2008
Photo by Beth Pinney

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

1. Do you agree that our culture does not give permission for us to grieve our losses?  Where do you see that?

2. How do you respond to the idea that we turn instead to depression or addiction so we don't have to feel?

3. What do you think about the idea that we are "numbing ourselves" by not experiencing emotional lows, thus becoming unable to feel high or low relationships?  Have you seen that in someone or in yourself?

4. When have you prayed, "How long, O Lord?"  

5. What situations in the world or in your life could you pray that about now?

6. List some losses you have experienced in your life.  The list could be quite long.  How have you reacted to them?  Are there some you haven't yet given yourself time to grieve? One way you might do this is to write a letter to the person or "thing" that has been lost: to the one who has died, to the one who has gone away, to the job you lost, or?