Hope In The Lord
January 2020 |
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:21-23
The New year
The dawn of a brand-new year is upon us. As this new year begins, we find ourselves in various circumstances. For some, the new year will start with a sense of excitement, great enthusiasm, and a can’t-wait-to-get-started attitude. But for others, the new year begins in devastation. Life has not been kind, and situations far beyond our control have stepped up to steal the joy and peace that our relationship with God usually provides.
Regardless of the positive or negative situations you are facing, I write today to encourage you to place your faith and hope in the Lord. He will not leave if you are in a time of trial, and His presence will make your times of celebration and joy even greater. I write to encourage you to hope in the Lord.
Jeremiah
Jeremiah is the author of this particular text, and we join him as he views the demolished city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah had dedicated his life to speaking the Word of God to the children of Israel, primarily to the tribe of Judah. He started off his ministry with high hopes and a sense of revival amongst the people, but it soon went downhill. Much to his dismay, he soon discovered that the people’s heart was far from God. Though he warned them of the consequences of sin and idolatry, the people failed to heed his warnings. Because of their rebellion, God allowed his people to be decimated and taken into Babylonian captivity. The city of Jerusalem is destroyed and stands burning and empty. The view is a scene of death—an empty moonscape that is barely recognizable as the city of David. Everything that might have been is now no longer. The idea that things could ever be right again is hard to imagine and even more difficult to believe.
In this setting, Jeremiah writes the words of our text. He declares that despite what is obvious and evident, he still believes that God will set things right for His people. He has hope in the Lord. The reasons he calls up this hope are given in Lamentations 3:21-26. These reasons are good for those of us who need to replenish our hope in the Lord.
New Every Morning
Jeremiah has hope in the Lord because God’s mercy and compassions never fail to be exhibited and expressed in the lives of His people. The love that God has for those of us who have accepted His Son is a love that will not fail or be depleted. It is a love promised through covenant relationship that God cannot fail to express. Romans 5:8 says, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” How much more now being made partakers of His covenant, will He save us from our untoward circumstances and situations? If we think for a moment that God’s compassion and His loving kindnesses toward us have been worn down and depleted, then we are mistaken. Jeremiah reminds us that no matter how much mercy or love God expends upon His people at any certain hour, God has a supply that is more than enough for that current day. And whatever He might have expended in the day before is replenished at the start of each new day. It is impossible for God to run out of compassion toward his people. Based on this truth, we should continually hope in the Lord.
God Is My Portion
Jeremiah also expresses hope in the Lord because God is his portion. This means that he is affiliated or belongs to the person named. As believers, we belong to the Lord. Everything that we are, and everything that we have is in His capable hands. Circumstances are not in charge of our fate. We are not dependent upon luck or chance. Serving God secures us to the one sure thing in the universe. He watches over my inheritance. He has delivered me from the pain of my past, and He has secured me for a future and an eternity with Him. God is my portion. Therefore, I will hope in him.
Wait On The Lord
Jeremiah has hope in the Lord and knows that it is good to wait for His delivering power. In times when we fail to understand or see what God is doing, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the negativity and hurt that dominates our hearts and minds. But there is an avenue that is always open to the believer. We have access by faith into grace from God. We are to seek Him and believe that He has our best in mind. We come boldly to the throne of grace where we find mercy and grace to help in our time of need. Having made our requests known, we then wait upon God to deliver the answers regarding the salvation we require. It is good to both wait and hope in the Lord.
Wait On The Lord
The story has been told of the child in day care. Each day she waited patiently for one of her parents to arrive and take her home. On one afternoon she was particularly anxious to leave. When her father arrived to take her home, she ran quickly to him and stated passionately, “Let’s go home!” But the day care worker had to slow her down. Before she could leave, she needed to put the toys away that she had left on the floor. Almost in a panic the child cried out, “Oh Daddy, don’t leave me!” Her father smiled and said, “Don’t worry, dear. I didn’t come to leave you; I came to pick you up.” Your heavenly Father did not save you to leave you. He came to pick you up. Hope in the Lord!
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