Psalm 13 - How long a wait?

One reason I love the Bible, one reason I trust the Bible is because it gives the unvarnished truth... on rough cut lumber, at that.

Listen to David struggling in Psalm 13:
"1 Lord, how long must I wait? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you turn your face away from me?
2 How long must I struggle with my thoughts?
How long must my heart be sad day after day?
How long will my enemies keep winning the battle over me?
3 Lord my God, look at me and answer me. Give me new life, or I will die.
4 Then my enemies will say, 'We have beaten him.' They will be filled with joy when I die."
(Psalm 13:1-4, New International Reader's Version)

Rather gloomy, huh?

I remember taking vacation trips with my parents, and one trip in particular:
Three boys sharing the back seat of a Falcon station wagon. Riding from South Holland, Illinois to the Smoky Mountains, my parents heard the repeated, trio refrain:

"How long 'til we get there?" (Wherever "there" was.)

As adults, we are a bit more sophisticated, but the question is the same.
God seems to be intentionally ignoring. How long?
Questions in the mind won't turn off. How long?
Sadness and angst press in every day. How long?
Unbelievers call our faith stupid. How long?

It's tempting to jump ahead to the end of the psalm:
"5 But I trust in your faithful love. My heart is filled with joy because you will save me.
6 I will sing to the Lord. He has been so good to me."

God has been good to David in the past. He knows God will rescue him in the future.
In between the past deliverances and future answers, David waits. How long?

Only God knows, but it's okay to ask.
The key is to not stop expecting an answer.

Lord, it's tough waiting when I don't know how long I have to wait. Can't you tell me ahead of time how many days it will be until things lighten up? You've helped me before, but I need a reminder of how You've answered before. Give me endurance and strength to wait for You, once again. In Jesus' name, Amen.