How long, O Lord, how long?

Photo by Matthew Ball on Unsplash

On March 11 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus that was spreading across the globe a pandemic. One year on COVID-19 still threatens the physical and mental health of millions across the world. It has been a challenging year. 

Mental health matters are a hot topic of discussion. In these difficult days, at times the pressures felt by individuals often seem overwhelming. Campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the scale of the problem appear daily in the news media. At every level, we are encouraged to recognise the signs of mental distress and to do what we can to support each other.

Mental anguish is not a new phenomenon. Those who wrote the Hebrew scriptures knew all about the despair that comes from living in difficult times. Psalm 6 describes the anguish of a soul worn down by weeping. 

How long, O Lord, how long?

Crying out for mercy, this troubled individual reaches for God. Although there is neither a direct reply or, seemingly, any change in the writer's circumstances, the simple act of reaching out in prayer changes everything.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

Trusting that God will not fail to answer the prayers of one who suffers, the psalmist finds the strength to journey on in hope. As our journey continues we too reach out to the God who has promised never to leave us or desert us. From the place of deep distress, we echo the ancient call, knowing that our cries do not go unheard and that our prayer will be accepted.