[391 words]
We all have times where the circumstances of our lives seem overwhelming. It is just the nature of life among sinners upon a cursed earth. If you have some trouble believing it to be true, then you should know that though Jesus lived in absolute moral perfection (Heb 4:15), yet He was at times overwhelmed, too (Mark 14:33-34).
We may find our selves overwhelmed or even discouraged from our circumstances. This can just be part of our humanity, as in Jesus’ case, or it could be as a result of our failures, our missed opportunities, our own sin, and the sin of others. The prophet Jeremiah was called upon by God to teach and preach to God’s people and lament their circumstances (Jeremiah 1, 5, 20). God ‘s people had generally lived like the world, following sinful desires and committing idolatry, (see Jer. 2, 5, et al.), and they were being punished by God for their sins.
Jeremiah endures the same tragic and sorrow-filled circumstances as the rest of the nation, but he is filled with God’s word (Jer. 20:8-9) and has the benefit of the hope that comes from knowing God, who gave His word. If you read Lam. 3:1-20, you can see the sad shape things were in. We don’t usually talk about these first 20 verses, because they are so sad.
However, the next four verses fill us with hope! We remember them. We even sing them, regularly, because they remind us that our hope in God is far greater than our circumstances, because our God is far greater than our circumstances! It is the steadfast love of the Lord that keeps us going. It encourages us. It fills us with hope. It reminds us that the Lord is our portion, and we know it in our souls to be true! Please, hear the message of these ancient words and be encouraged by God’s love for His people and the newness He offers them because of His faithfulness.
“But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,
therefore I will hope in him” (Lam. 3:21-24).
Jay Don Poindexter
Merkel Church of Christ
Merkel, TX