In Psalm 69, David is crying out to God in desperation. He says, "I'm in over my head" (v. 1), and later, "I'm hoarse from calling for help, bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God" (v. 3). In verse 6, though, he switches his focus: "Don't let those who look to you in hope be discouraged by what happens to me, dear Lord! God of the armies! Don't let those out looking for you come to a dead end by following me--Please, dear God of Israel!"
David is concerned about how his unanswered prayer is affecting the faith of those who look to him. I don't think David is trying to manipulate God here. He's wise enough to know that would be fruitless. I think David is asking God to protect the hearts of those whose faith is vulnerable, but more than that, I think he is asking God to increase his own faith and change his perspective so that others are strengthened in the Lord by his reactions.
Think of Paul. He went through some dark times, and God didn't always immediately rescue him from his trials, but his perspective was such that God is using him even today to minister to people. Some of Paul's most influential words were written from a jail cell.
How is the faith of others affected when God seems to be silent in regards to your difficulties? Do they look to you and say, "Oh, she's been praying, and she's still in that place, so God must not care"? Or is their response, "How does she endure with such faith and joy? That has to come from a supernatural place!"?
Dear friend, God's answer isn't always to change our circumstances. Sometimes the most profound rescue is when He changes our hearts.
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