“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.
“Life Sucks” as our son often remarked when younger. I don’t know about you but some days just feels that way. God has been reminding me lately again that His mercies are new each morning and His love is steadfast and never ceasing. God is faithful!
He is not only faithful but gentle! If He can be gentle with me I can be gentle with myself.
I’ve been wondering how many of us have quoted Lamentations 3:22 and 23, yet never taken time to look at the verses around it?
My pastor sometime back walked us through this passage and now these words have taken on new meaning. Just what is the context of which these verses were written, and why were they written?
A story of a man named Jeremiah author of Lamentations 3, tells us that God’s mercies are new each day and His steadfast love never ceases, yet he had great trials, and was currently going through great affliction. If anyone could say “life sucks” it would be Jeremiah.
The whole chapter leading up to Lamentations 3:22 and 23 tells us that Jeremiah experienced a bleak life of darkness, where he was often left to die. He found himself in all kinds of tribulations becoming even bitter at life. He would, at those moments, often cry out to God, yet feeling as if God was ignoring him and didn’t hear him.
Maybe you feel (or have felt) that God isn’t answering your prayers? Maybe life is bleak and dark right now and you have no answers?
Every path Jeremiah took felt crooked, as if God was there blocking his steps. Or God was like an animal around the corner waiting in hiding to get him, ready to tear him into pieces if he took the wrong step.
Jeremiah found people laughing at him all day long. He became the object of their taunts; leaving Jeremiah without any peace, causing him to forget just what happiness was. It stripped him of his perseverance, leaving him with no hope. He just wanted to die. And he was considered God’s Prophet.
Are you feeling hopeless, or depressed? Feeling rejected by people you thought you trusted? Maybe people are saying things about you that aren’t true or you perceive things people say and it hurts. Ever been there or felt some of what Jeremiah was feeling?
All of us can relate to one or another of the feelings or situations of Jeremiah at some level. I certainly have over the years. I have known days of depression and hopelessness. I have felt rejected and laughed at by people, and sometimes by people I trusted…
Some days feel like the old saying, “when it rains it pours”. One bad thing after another, as if there is no end to it. I am not saying that God is not good, or that I don’t experience joy, but there are seasons of life where life just seems harder than others. And honestly, it can just feel like “life sucks”.
So what does Jeremiah do at this point? He clings to God!
Even though his soul was depressed and in affliction, Jeremiah still told himself to remember:
- To take hope in the steadfast love of the Lord which never ceases. (vs. 22)
- That His mercies are new every morning (vs. 23)
- Great is God’s faithfulness! (vs. 23)
- He reminds his soul that the Lord is his portion, and he will hope in the Lord only. (vs. 24)
- That the Lord is good to those who wait for him and seek God. (vs. 25) Jeremiah would not give up on God. He would seek Him.
- He tells his soul that it is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (vs. 26)
- He tells his soul to sit alone in silence when it is laid on him to do so. (vs. 28)
- He tells his soul to face his fear and enemies for the Lord will not cast him off forever. (vs. 30, 31) There is hope to come.
- He tells his soul that even though there is grief caused by the Lord, the Lord will also have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love. (vs. 32)
In the first half of the passage one feels hopelessness in Jeremiah’s situation but in the second half of the passage, the same things are happening but now we feel a sense of hope in Jeremiah’s spirit.
What was the difference in attitude that caused Jeremiah’s spirit to change?
As Jeremiah prayed and cried, he remembered God and His promises in his very soul. He knew God had rescued him before, therefore he would do it again. He knew the faithfulness of God. He didn’t give up.
He said, “I called on the name of the Lord from the depths of the pit. God heard his (and will hear yours and mine) pleas and came near and said “Do not Fear.”
God faithfully came through and saw Jeremiah’s cause and redeemed his life. God saw the wrong done and judged the cause. Jeremiah with hope in his heart again said, “God will repay them for their wrong. God will give dullness of heart and curse them, pursue them and destroy them for their wrong in due time.” Jeremiah didn’t give up on hoping in God after all. His only hope. Jeremiah was willing to WAIT knowing God was faithful and would come to his defense in His timing.
Jeremiah didn’t forget WHO GOD IS. He didn’t forget WHAT GOD HAD DONE for him. In this, he placed his hope. Not in his circumstances but in God Himself.
So when you pray (or sing) those words again, “God’s mercies are new each day and His steadfast love is unceasing. Great is His faithfulness”, will your soul remember? Will you pray those words in a different light?
Life might still suck and be difficult at times but your soul can push through as you take time to remember who God is, and His promises. Causing your soul not to forget, to come alive in hope again. Knowing in due time God will answer your prayers.
Just think of Jeremiah’s story: Jeremiah could look past his situation because He knew who God was and what God could do. He then knew God would do it in the future. It was an intentionality on Jeremiah’s part because of his relationship and faith in God and the assignment that God had called him too.
Personal Reflections: I would suggest taking time to read Lamentations chapter 3 again. Can you relate to any situation in Jeremiah’s life at any given moment in your life? Can it help give you some steps to get through a difficult season? Did this blog help you think differently about Lamentations 3:22 and 23. How might it change your attitude or prayers? Would you be willing to share any of your thoughts with us today in the comment section of the blog, “Life Can Be Hard”.
From one woman pilgrim to another journeying together,
”Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Please Reply in a gracious manner