How Long?

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Psalm 13; Isaiah 49:15

"How long until we get there?" Jeremy whined for the fourteenth time in the past seventeen minutes.

"We'll be at Uncle Jim and Aunt Kate's house in about two more hours," Dad replied. "Let's stop at a rest area soon and stretch our legs."

At the rest area, Jeremy tumbled out of the van along with his parents and brothers. The boys began kicking a soccer ball around while Mom and Dad grabbed granola bars, apples, and water bottles from the trunk.

As they settled back into the car, Dad said, "Jeremy, your question reminded me of something."

"What's that?" Jeremy inquired between juicy bites of apple.

"King David," Dad answered. "He asked God that question many times in a row."

"Was David on a long road trip too?" Jeremy asked.

Dad laughed. "No. He was asking how long God would forget him, how long God would abandon him to his enemies."

"But God wouldn't do that," Jeremy said with certainty. "God won't ever leave us or forget about us. The Bible says so."

"That's true," Dad said. "But sometimes it feels that way. When life is hard, when someone we love is dying, or when we're sick or lonely, it can feel like we'll be miserable forever. Sometimes it feels like God isn't hearing our prayers--like He doesn't care about us."

"Dad and I talk about Psalm 13 quite a bit," Mom added. She turned around to look at Jeremy. "When God didn't answer our prayers to heal your cousin Emma the way we were hoping He would, this psalm encouraged us to talk to Jesus about it--to bring our anger and pain to Him. Talking to God like this doesn't mean we're sinning or not trusting Him correctly. Talking to God like this actually means that we--like David--trust Him enough to keep bringing our questions to Him. Jesus gave His life to make us God's children, and He loves and welcomes us--even when we're angry, even when we ask the same question fourteen times in seventeen minutes." She chuckled and patted Jeremy's knee.

"And before you ask," Dad said, grinning as he peeked at Jeremy in the rearview mirror, "we'll get to Uncle Jim and Aunt Kate's in one hour and forty-seven minutes."

–Rachel Lubow

How About You?
Have you ever felt like God doesn't see you or care about you? Psalm 13 shows us that you can always talk to God--He welcomes all our questions and feelings. Jesus loves us so much that He died for our sins to give us eternal life with Him, and He sits with us in the hardest parts of our lives. He sees you and cares about you, and He will never forget you or abandon you.
Today's Key Verse:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (NIV) (Psalm 13:1)
Today's Key Thought:
We can bring anything to God