Devotion 4 in the series Hope Springs Eternal: Lamentations 3

Is Your Hope Faltering? Trust God’s Steadfast Love

What are we to do when our heart hurts and our hope is faltering? Discover how God’s love can see you through to brighter days ahead.

A view from the rear of a little girl holding her father's hand, walking on the side of a road

Do you know what my favorite time of day is? It’s when I pick up my niece from school. I park my car and walk to the waiting area, where I stand with the other parents and grandparents who are waiting to pick up their charges. The anticipation builds: Will she have had a good day? Did she once again ace her spelling test, for which we studied so hard? What will this budding civil engineer have designed out of construction paper and tape during her free time at the end of the day?

But the anticipation is not the best part.

The best part is when she bounds out the door and across the grass toward me and places her hand in mine. I don’t make her do it. At 10, she still longs for touch. It doesn’t matter what kind of day she has had: She chooses to place her hand in mine. We stride to the car, arms swinging, her stories from the day spilling out. As I struggle to hold onto all of the end-of-day crafts, she holds my hand tightly.

Why hold my hand?

My niece knows I love her with unfailing love. She knows I’ll show up. She knows I’ll listen. It is not perfect: She also knows I have to go back to work, and so we part ways 10 minutes later–her to the TV, me to my basement office.

But for a few precious minutes, we connect, her hand resting in mine.

A man named Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. It contains some of my favorite verses of scripture, because they hold a stirring, encouraging message. But it’s the context of those verses that make them all the more moving.

The book is a lament, an outpouring of deep personal sorrow and complaint to God. Jeremiah longed for the people to trust in God again. His heart broke at their wandering and their consequent captivity. By the time he wrote Lamentations, Jerusalem had fallen to the Babylonians because the people had not listened to Jeremiah’s warnings. It doesn’t stop there: Jeremiah was angry at God, mad at Him for what God had asked him to endure.

What did Jeremiah do when the weight became too heavy, when he thought he could not go on?

He slipped his hand into the hand of God. In the middle of his lament, he reminded himself of God’s steadfast love:

21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end. (Lamentations 3:21-22 ESV)

After all he had been through, how could Jeremiah bring himself to say those words? Because he knew that God’s love never ceases, and His mercies never come to an end. In fact, even when life seems to be falling apart, when there seems to be no hope, God provides new mercies every morning.

God’s hand holds fast. His love never fails. Therefore, we can claim hope.

Is your hope faltering? Be sure to read on to find encouragement from God’s Word.

Digging into God’s Word: Because of God’s Love

Because of God’s love, we can hold onto hope. His love is steadfast and never ending. As you read this passage, notice how Jeremiah slips his hand into the hand of God: how he intentionally reminds himself of God’s love.

Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV)

21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

Digging Deeper: Because of God’s Love

Treasure this time with the Lord. Reflect on or journal about the following questions, listening for what God has to say to you. Questions 1 and 2 are closely connected and should be done in tandem, even if you have to respond to them on separate days.

1. If you are moved to do so, take the time to lament to God. Do not feel guilty about this. Many of the psalms of David are psalms of lament, of complaint. God wants us to be honest with him. If at all possible, write out your lament, pouring your heart out to God.

2. After having lamented to God, shift your focus and write, to yourself, reminders of God’s love for you. You might remind yourself with Bible verses that speak about God’s love, or you might reflect on the ways in which God has shown His love and faithfulness in your life.

3. Reflect on Psalm 147:11.  What meaning does this verse have for you?

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:11 ESV)

4. Remind yourself of God’s love and faithfulness by worshiping with these songs. Choose one or all of the songs to listen to, or come back to these songs throughout the week.

Multiplied (NeedtoBreathe)

The Love of God (Rich Mullins) You can find the lyrics here: Lyrics for The Love of God

The Steadfast Love of the Lord Never Ceases (this song’s words come straight from Lamentations 3)

~~~~~

Find the Series

You can find the entire series on Hope here: Hope Springs Eternal

Find Past Devotions from other series on the website under the Devotions menu or at www.diggingdeeperwithgod.com/past-devotions/.

~~~~~

Free Printable on Psalm 103!

A few weeks ago, we finished a series on Leaving a Legacy, which focused on living out the characteristics that God models for us in Psalm 103. For a printable on What Psalm 103 Tells Us About God, click this link:

What Psalm 103 Tells Us About God

~~~~~

Subscribe!

I’m so glad you are here. Sign up here to Meet With God and Grow in Faith.

Join us to get a free resource and to have these devotions delivered straight to your inbox.

Share Button
Print

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published.

Custom Wordpress theme by Jeff Roberts Web Design

Show
Hide