How Long, Lord? By Bruce Merz

“How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.” ~ Psalm 35:17

      Have you ever had times when it feels like God is silent or inactive? That the prayers for your plight or injustice seem to go unanswered? And you feel like David, lamenting “How long, Lord, will you look on?”

      May I encourage you today? You are in very good company!

      For various reasons—some of which we’ll explore shortly—God intentionally delays His intervention and justice at times. We see this across the biblical narrative.

      For example, God could have judged the devil immediately, stopping him from ever reaching Adam and Eve. He could have given Abraham and Sarah a child right away instead of making them wait decades, long past their childbearing years. He could have cut short Joseph’s unjust enslavement or shortened Israel’s centuries of bondage in Egypt. And the list goes on. Yet, for whatever reason, He didn’t. Jesus, too, delayed going to his sick friend Lazarus, allowing death to arrive before He did. I think the words of his sister, Mary, echo what many of us feel at times: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).

      If you find yourself in a similar season – praying for deliverance, for freedom, for restoration or justice—and the silence is almost deafening, know this: you are not alone. You are walking a well-worn path, shared by saints and sufferers before you. What are we to make of the delay, then? Is it simply a matter of sovereignty, or could it be that God is purposefully at work in the waiting, weaving something greater than we can yet see?

       Hopefully, you’re already assured of God’s goodness—a conviction that’s essential when facing divine delay and one well worth exploring more deeply another time. But for now, let’s consider what Scripture reveals about the fruits of God’s timing. In these patterns, I hope you’ll find comfort, clarity, and even renewed hope to keep going.

       First, delay often grows resilient faith. Times of waiting stretch our trust-muscles. We learn perseverance, character, and ultimately hope. Romans 5:3-5 reminds us that suffering produces endurance, which then shapes us into people of tested character and expectation. James 1:2-4 echoes this, urging us to let endurance finish its work. David waited years between being anointed and crowned king—years filled with danger, exile, and betrayal. Yet in that wilderness, his faith was forged, and he learned to deeply trust in God’s protection, preservation and promises.

       Second, delay can align our will with His. In seasons of unanswered prayer, we are often forced to surrender our plans and cling instead to God’s will. The Psalms teach us to wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14), and Jesus Himself modeled this in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Paul, too, asked for relief from his thorn, only to discover that God’s grace was sufficient and His power perfected in weakness (2Corinthians 12:7-10).

       Third, delay often reveals a greater moment. What feels late to us may be the perfect time for a greater unveiling of God’s glory. Jesus’ delay in coming to Lazarus was not neglect—it was for a greater miracle. Joseph’s years in prison weren’t wasted; they aligned his release with Pharaoh’s dream, opening the door to national salvation. Sometimes God holds back until all the threads are ready to converge.

       Years ago, when I was deathly ill-unconscious in the hospital with multiple fatal conditions and a 0% chance of survival according to the doctors—God didn’t grant an instant miracle. Instead, He chose a gradual one. Over the two months that followed, as tens of thousands interceded, countless lives were changed. Stories poured in of reconciliations, renewed faith, unexpected healings, and more. While I lay dying, God was busy resurrecting.

       Fourth, God may delay to enlarge the reach of salvation. As 2Peter 3:9 tells us, God is not slow but patient, not wanting anyone to perish but all to come to repentance. He held back judgment on the Canaanites for generations (Genesis 15:16), giving space for repentance. His delays, especially when it comes to justice, often mean open doors for more to repent and come home.

       Fifth, delay respects our genuine freedom. God rarely forces our hand. Instead, He lets people (including us) face the natural consequences of their choices. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15), the father lets the younger son leave and waste everything. Only when the son tastes the bitter fruit of his rebellion does he return. Similarly, the book of Judges shows a repeated cycle of sin, suffering, repentance, and rescue.

       Sixth, delay exposes hidden motives. When the Israelites grew impatient during Moses’ delay on Mount Sinai, they crafted the golden calf (Exodus 32). Their idol wasn’t formed because God failed—it was revealed by the delay. Delay can surface what is truly in our hearts: fear, entitlement, and control. And that awareness is often the first step towards Healing.

       Seventh, delay heightens the joy of deliverance. A long night makes dawn brighter. When God finally breaks through, the story is richer and stronger. Paul tells of being burdened beyond his ability to endure so that he might rely not on himself but on God, who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:8-11). Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

       Still, amidst all the waiting, the most precious gift God offers is not the resolution of the problem, but Himself. God doesn’t merely cool the furnace from afar — He steps inside! In Babylon, the fourth figure appeared in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:24-25). Rescue began with presence before deliverance. And at the cross, we see the ultimate proof: Jesus, Immanuel—“God with us”—chose thorns, nails, and betrayal. He suffered for us then and suffers with us now. Hebrews 4:15 says we do not have a high priest unable to empathize with our weaknesses.

       Therefore, our suffering becomes a sacred opportunity for deep union with Christ. Paul calls it “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). In trials, we are drawn closer into His story—even as He steps into ours. As Psalm 23:4 reminds us, even in the darkest valley, we need not fear, for He is with us. And as Hebrews 13:5 assures us, He will never leave us nor forsake us. He still walks hospital corridors, silent bedrooms, and anxious midnights with us. Beloved, never forget: delay is not absence. God is at work—even when we cannot yet see it.

       So, like David, let us hold fast. Let us remember God’s faithfulness and persist in prayer and thanksgiving, until we too “see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Beloved, “wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13 –14), for our salvation is surely drawing near.