There is a terribly wrong belief that is a kind of fatalism, very often a misunderstanding of the teaching of the sovereignty of God, a belief that says, “Oh, this is a time of declension. This is not a time to expect blessing either individually or for the church, so don’t ask for it. You must just wait until times will improve.” But that is a blatant contradiction of the teaching of the psalmists. At such times the psalmists pleaded with God to come back. They said, “Why are You like a stranger? Why don’t You come back?” And that is the inevitable attitude of a child. But the other view is sheer fatalism and has nothing to do with the teaching of Scripture.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Seeking the Face of God: Nine Reflections on the Psalms
