The steadfast love of the Lord is our hope.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?“ 
Psalm 13:1-2 New Living Translation

The drizzle surrounding this deserted house created an atmosphere of abandonment, much like a baseball player in right field. When I played little league baseball, a player in right field didn’t usually get much action, other than picking dandelions or buggers. The coach didn’t pay much attention to the right fielder until that rare left handed hitter came to the plate. Then the coach (and the right fielder) prayed that the batter would strikeout rather than make contact.

South Park, Colorado

Being in “right field” can be a lonely place. It’s the place of King David, the author of psalm thirteen. It’s not a long psalm, but it’s one that gets the point quickly. He feels the hatred of his enemies. He is in a place of abandon. Half of the psalm is his plea, “How long…?”

It’s a lonely place to feel abandoned by God. We know that other people will abandon us and sometimes we expect it, but we don’t think that God will abandon us.

Though David feels abandoned in the first part of the psalm, he realizes that God has not left him in the last portion of his song.

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.” 
Psalm 13:5-6 English Standard Version

Indeed, God has dealt bountifully with us. Even though we might feel like we’re dwelling in right field, may we sense the steadfast love of the Lord giving us hope.

Text and Picture Copyright Douglas P Brauner