How Long, Not Long by Martin Luther King

"I know you are asking today, "How long will it take?" (Speak, sir) Somebody's asking, "How long will prejudice blind the visions of men, darken their understanding, and drive bright-eyed wisdom from her sacred throne?" Somebody's asking, "When will wounded justice, lying prostrate on the streets of Selma and Birmingham and communities all over the South, be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men?" Somebody's asking, "When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night, (Speak, speak, speak) plucked from weary souls with chains of fear and the manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified, (Speak) and truth bear it?" (Yes, sir) I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, (Yes, sir) however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, (No sir) because "truth crushed to earth will rise again." (Yes, sir) How long? Not long, (Yes, sir) because "no lie can live forever." (Yes, sir) How long? Not long, (All right. How long) because "you shall reap what you sow." (Yes, sir)...How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
- Martin Luther King Jr. "How Long, Not Long"

We have all experienced this waiting, yearning period that King describes. Shouting "HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE, LORD?! How much more can I bear?! How can justice be so good but seem so far away?" This is the question that plagues human life. How can God allow suffering and justice to be held off for what seems like so long? Many people would look at this question and say, I don't know. I don't know. And, in many cases, there is no explanation. There is not always a specific "why" to answer why this happened. But we know there is ALWAYS a bigger purpose. Always. My sister once said that out of soot and ash come beautiful rose bushes. there's always something beautiful growing underneath destruction. If you're suffering, remember that. God promises that he will work everything out for your good because you love him (Romans 8:28). Hold onto that. Don't forget it. It might seem like your deliverance is taking forever. "JESUS WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG? WHEN WILL IT END?! HOW LONG?!" Not long. Just hang in there. He is pruning you, tearing down all your unstable walls so that, out of your ashes, he can create something even more beautiful and strong. How long? Not Long. Hang in there.