Lamentations 3:19-26

We usually expect words of praise about God’s greatness to follow some great event, some huge healing, or some amazing providence in our lives. So, what blessing do you think Jeremiah had just received to lead him to these words of praise?

Lamentations 3:21-23
“Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

It’s true…praise should and often do follow such times of blessings. But in this verse, Jeremiah sings this praise song right in the middle of deep grief and despair. In the previous three chapters, Jeremiah has been describing the reality of pain, grief, sorrow, and God’s punishment for sins. In fact, in the very verse before his praise song he says, “The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.” (Lamentations 3:19-20)

Yet it is right after these words that Jeremiah then lifts up a shout of praise. How can he do this? Because his heart isn’t empty.. it is full of Hope. In the midst of such pain, he says, “I HAVE HOPE!”

True hope isn’t simply based on positive thinking. True hope is anchored in the knowledge of who the Lord is and His faithfulness. Jeremiah believes that, regardless of all the suffering he is experiencing, Jesus is more than enough to sustain him and see him through. As Jeremiah opens his eyes to a new day, He trusts that His salvation is only a day away.

Look at verses 24-26:
“I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for Him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him.
It is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.”
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Advent is a season that teaches and helps us to practice this hopeful waiting as children of all sizes “wait” for Christmas to arrive. In the same way we “wait” until Jesus will come again as our Savior.

We do not wait empty hearted…we wait with hearts full of hope in Him!

So, Follow Jesus, Be Changed by Jesus, and in your commitment to His mission – wait with hopeful hearts.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we give You great thanks again, for the incredible hope that we have in You.

We may look around us at times and see all kinds of things that frighten us, things that are not going away. We may be experiencing suffering and pain and hardships, and yet You fill our hearts with hope. For we trust, and we follow. You continue to grant us faith, to trust You through all things, that we might recall that our salvation has already been won and that we get an opportunity to experience it new every single day.

We look forward to the day when You will return. And until then, help us to follow You. Continue to change us, and continue to move within our lives, with the commitment to the mission that You call us to. It’s in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.