"This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great [ample!] is Your faithfulness.
'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul,
'Therefore I hope in Him!'
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord."
Lamentations 3:21-26
These verses speak to me when I am having an "autism day". I love that they come right after Jeremiah pours his suffering and anguish out. He's depressed and lost all hope of deliverance, but then he speaks those words-- a reminder that there is always hope, even in the darkest of circumstances.
I often make lists (surprise, surprise) from passages that particularly speak to me. Here's mine for this passage:
Jeremiah's hope (and mine) come from knowing:
- The Lord's loyal kindness never stops. It's a covenantal love.
- His compassions never end.
- We do not have to be consumed by our circumstances because we have His love.
- His mercies are fresh every day.
- His faithfulness is abundant, ample, enough for anything I face.
- Our inheritance is the Lord so we can trust Him.
- The Lord is good to those who trust in Him and seek Him.
Jeremiah's response (and ours) in times of depression/pain/suffering:
- Trust God (even when we lack hope).
- Seek Him.
- Place our hope in the list of things above.
- Wait patiently for deliverance.
- Know the Lord will not stay quiet forever.
- Repent of sin.
Characteristics of God Seen in the Passage:
- Though He disciplines and though He allows difficulties, He deals with us with compassion.
- He is not predisposed to afflict people. He doesn't like it. (vs. 33)
- He is sovereign over suffering (vs. 37-38)
- He punishes sin, often by taking away His hand of blessing and protection
- He repays those who do evil against us
- He is actively working in my life, always in a perfect way that is for my good (even in the hard stuff).
