While praying Psalm 13 today, I stumbled upon what felt like a contradiction. Then I realized it was actually a beautiful paradox—a powerful example of how two seemingly opposite truths can exist at the same time. In the opening verses of Psalm 13, David asks, “How long, O LORD?” four times:

¹How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
² 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?

Perhaps, like me, you have asked that question of the Lord too. But the questions aren’t what I thought was contradictory. Nor were the following verses, in which David suggested three things that might result if the Lord does not answer his questions. David says he will die, his enemy will claim victory, and his foes will rejoice:

³ Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
⁴ lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

The first four verses of Psalm 13 resonate deeply. David is remarkably honest with God, refusing to pretend he is unaffected by his circumstances. He feels forgotten, alone, and anxious that his enemy seemed to be prevailing.

But when I prayed the remaining verses of the Psalm, I realized that what I thought was contradictory was recognition that two things can be true at the same time.

⁵ But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

There it is. Two statements. “I have trusted.” And “My heart shall rejoice.” David moved from How long? to I have trusted. David’s trust didn’t erase his questions. His trust exists alongside his questions.

Two things can be true at the same time.

We can be worried and trusting.
We can be weary and faithful.
We can have questions and still believe.
We can be waiting for God to act and still know that He is good.

God doesn’t tell us that faithful people never struggle with anxious thoughts. Instead, He shows us people, like David, who brought those thoughts to Him. Like David, may we bring our anguish, our anxiety, and our questions before God. Our faith doesn’t mean we know for certain what God will do. But our faith is confidence in who God is while we wait to see what He will do. Two things can be true at the same time.