Judah was all that is left of God's chosen people. But now the nation is in exile in Babylon, her homeland burned and destroyed. She is the South just after Sherman's march through Atlanta. Her people feel they have no future, that their God has abandoned them or is too weak to help them. This was never to happen to them. So God's people are "weak" and "weary"—these words appear in every verse from 28 to 31. They are depressed and ready to quit on God.

They're not the last.

Philip Yancey's classic book, Disappointment With God, tells the stories of suffering souls he has known and interviewed, many of whom felt they had reason to give up on their faith. In a fascinating irony, I noticed this week that my copy has a label on the cover which says, "100% Money Back Guarantee. If for any reason you are dissatisfied with 'Disappointment with God,' return it postpaid (with the receipt) to Zondervan Publishing House for a complete refund." The book comes with a money-back guarantee. But the faith it describes does not, in the experience of many of us.

We become disappointed with God for two reasons.

Sometimes we feel, "My way is hidden from the Lord." "Way" in the Hebrew means our "condition;" "hidden" means "unknown." My condition or problem is unknown to God, or he would do something about it. He doesn't know about me.

Or he doesn't care: "my cause is disregarded by my God." He knows about me, but doesn't care to get involved. It's not his intelligence which is limited, but his love.

Either he doesn't know, or he doesn't care. Otherwise, why won't he help us? Why won't he get us out of our Babylonian slavery and transport us to the Promised Land? Why is he unfair, or silent, or hidden?

Be honest and specific: aren't you asking such questions in your mind or spirit, either consciously or unconsciously? Don't you have nagging doubts, or even worse, shouting pain in your soul? You prayed for a loved one who died anyway; you asked God to keep you from falling into sin again, but you fell anyway; you asked God to guide your decision, but it was the wrong one; you asked him to heal you, but he hasn't; you asked him for a job, but you're still unemployed; you've told him of your loneliness, but you're still alone.