Psalm from Zimbabwe

by Rochelle McAlister | 22/01/2008

H

ow long, Lord? How long will you leave us in the dark – waiting for light – even just a few hours of light?

How long, Lord? How long must we continue begging for daily bread? Longing for clean water?

How long, Lord? How long will you send these floods which are drowning our crops? Are we evil, Lord? Do you not see good in any of us?

How long, Lord? How long will we watch young women and girls sell their bodies and their souls for school fees?

How long, Lord? How long must we be beaten in the sun-scorched queues at the bank – just to take out our own money?

How long, Lord? How long before a box of matches will cost less than a million dollars? Before our salaries can actually cover the transport to work?

How long, Lord? How long will we look into the eyes of malnourished infants, saying to them, “Sorry, you were born at a bad time?”

How long, Lord? How long will we turn back old men from hospitals and clinics without any medicine, saying to them, “Sorry, you are dying at a bad time?”

How long, Lord? How long will death prowl through our communities, devouring our mothers, sons, sisters, husbands…?

How long, Lord? How long will we have peace – this silencing, suffocating, suffering peace?

How long, Lord? How long will we sing your praises – waiting for your faithfulness to be great, waiting for you to move in mysterious ways?

How long, Lord? How long before we can hope again, dream again?

Lord, we trust in your unfailing love, your goodness, your salvation.

But Lord, for how long?

Writer: Rochelle and her husband John work for The Salvation Army in Harare, Zimbabwe. Rochelle is the territorial HIV/AIDS Coordinator. They have learned that they always took electricity and food on the shelves for granted, and they appreciate any prayers you can spare for their new homeland. Feel free to follow their adventures on their blog.

2 Comments to Psalm from Zimbabwe

1. This ‘Psalm’ is most challenging. It causes one to think and rethink again. How often am I moved by such things and very quickly move on in life - forgetting! Once our focus is shifted and we no longer have the scenario in front of us {in this case, in written form} there is a danger that we forget and continue to enjoy our comforts. This Psalm has challenged me to pray, “Lord, cause me to never forget! Cause me to pray constantly for Rochelle, John and others living in environments where sacrifice is a part of every day life.”
Morris Vincent on March 2nd, 2008

2. “and the cyring of the million souls are wailing
   they are crying from the chains that bind…..within

   and the echoes of the billion souls rejoicing
   i’m crying too
   I’m laughing with you
   all carried on
   this ghostly wind

   from “the mist”

   I sang this song at church
   and zimbabwe is included with him.

   we see it we feel it because of our connection with the Lord Jesusthe Christnand thus the comforter.

   and so
   though we do not physically touch them
   we suffer with them

   how long Lord how long.
   I trust Jesus.

   and he has given us a great power
   to feel with them
   to pray
   to ask jesus to address the Great IAM
   on behalf of those who are suffering
   physically emotionally spiritually

   Jesus did not call the holy spirit this
   he called the holy spirit “the comfortor”

   for even in the worst of torment if onr is comforted
   they can thus perssevere

   my prayers are with them so much through john and you.
   I don’t know why.

   so …..
   i invite you to constantly pray that jesus sends the comforter

   and you know
   this is something we do not see.

   i truly believe
   that even now
   the spirit is comforting those you have touched there
   and those they have touched.

   let us have faith in him
   in those thingd he does that we do not see.

   sincerely love in him to both your caring hesarts
   bernard
bernard matheson on February 3rd, 2009

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