Today’s reading: Lamentation 3
Do you cry often? I find that very few things actually bring me to tears. It isn’t that I have a heart of stone or am completely uncaring, it is just that crying is honestly not a usual behavior for me. I think it’s how I’m wired. There are a few things, however, that evoke an unusual emotion from me. In response to these topics, my threshold for tears is often pretty short.
- My family – reflecting on how God has been faithful to provide for my grandparents/parents/BJ and I over the years, sharing the struggles of my teenage children, or doing my best to turn the other cheek when someone has wronged the ones I love will bring me to tears almost every time.
- Perpetual frustration – when someone or something frustrates me time, after time, after time, I will sometimes hit a point where I’ve just had enough. One small, relatively benign, encounter might push me over the edge and leave me in tears.
- The saving grace of Jesus Christ – listening to testimonies of people who’ve reached the end of their rope, have finally laid their burdens at the cross of Jesus Christ, and accepted him as Savior and Lord also stirs my heart. It isn’t uncommon for me to get choked up on baptism Sunday.
Our text today has us in the book of Lamentations, often called the book of tears. Jeremiah wrote this dirge to mourn the fallen city of Jerusalem. God warned his people that he would bring destruction if they abandoned him. It wasn’t until after the Babylonians had destroyed the temple, overthrown the king, and sent them into exile, did God’s people realize their situation and confess their sin. Jeremiah was moved to tears because of his love for God and his people.
Fortunately, our assigned reading for today is Lamentations chapter 3. Midway through the chapter, the song turns from suffering and sorrow to hope. Although God temporarily turned away from his people because of their sin, he was still their hope for restoration.
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” (Lamentations 3:21-24).
So I ask you again, what makes you cry? Like Jeremiah, is your hope truly in the Lord? I don’t know about you, but it seems like I’m reminded of my inadequacies almost daily. Thankfully, I have a new opportunity to put my trust and hope in the Lord EVERY SINGLE DAY. God does not give up on me. He is still my only hope for restoration.
Thank you Lord for being faithful, for loving me, and for giving me new mercies every day.