Longing for God’s Presence

BY Rebecca Faires

Book III
While Book III contains threads of hope, it is often labeled as the “dark” book of the Psalter because of its focus on lament.

Life is short. The truth of this weighs on me, especially on the night before birthdays and every time I try to stay out after 11 pm. I also notice it here: have you ever been at a great dinner with great friends and thought, “This is amazing, and we are officially going to do this together every weekend from now on”—and then savor the next dinner together a decade later? The years are flying, friends. 

And some of our days and years have been heartbreaking and exhausting. We spend interminable nights calling out to the Lord, just like Ethan the Ezrahite, “How long, LORD?” (Psalm 89:46). How long will our suffering last? Turns out, not that long. Remember what Paul said about suffering on earth? He called it “momentary light affliction” (2Corinthians 4:17). What a wonderful and shocking perspective. This life is short and eternity is neverending. 

But the sufferings of even this short life make us desperately long for God’s rescue, comfort, and presence. And it is this final longing that is at the heart of our desire. While relief from struggle and hardship is lovely, our hearts are not truly fulfilled and comforted unless we know we are not alone and orphaned. The sons of Korah cry, “Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else” (Psalm 84:10). Our true desire is for the fellowship of God’s presence. We long to know that someone is consistently there for us, that our voice is heard and not ignored. 

Do you still sometimes find yourself in the darkest depths, saying, like the psalmist: “I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care” (Psalm 88:5)? Yet even in our most desperate hour, we have the sure hope of Jesus Christ, who works wonders even for the dead, who declared His faithful love even in the grave! 

Even in these short pilgrim days, the promise of His abiding presence sustains us. Our eternal hope is not merely a thing yet to come but a present reality. We say, “may my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry” (v.2). And we know that He hears, for He is our magnificent strength. Because His faithful love and truth go before Him, happy are we who walk in the light from His face (Psalm 89:17,14–15). 

And the great marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven will surpass all the best and richest dinner parties we’ve ever enjoyed during our sojourn days here on earth. These days can feel long, but our redemption is coming, and our joy in His presence will be absolutely incomparable.