I am sure after the unpredictable, scary, emotional ride that was 2020, many of us can be left with questions, doubts and insecurities. We were confronted with sickness, death, loss of jobs, normalcy and no toilet paper. It’s easy to feel hopeless. Even now when there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. For many, our lives were drastically flipped upside down.
In Lamentations chapter 3, we see Jeremiah struggling to come to terms with the reality of what was going on in the world around him. “He has hedged me in so I cannot get out” (Lam 3:7). Jeremiah knew a thing or two about being in quarantine. “You have moved my heart far from peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; And I said my strength and my hope have perished from the Lord” (Lam. 3:17-18) Jeremiah was hopeless and the more he thought of his current circumstances the further into despair he went.
It’s easy for us to get to that point. Where we can’t see God moving, not in our lives any way. We see breakthroughs for others, we see promises fulfilled for them, but we feel forgotten, lost and alone. In a year where we have been required to isolate, quarantine, and stay away from those we love, It’s easy to feel like Jeremiah, lost and forgotten. But the more we focus on our troubles, the more we will be convinced of our isolation and hopelessness.
“The Steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
But then… Jeremiah recalls the faithfulness of God. The God he knew, the God he preached, the God he believed in. He reminded himself that God’s steadfast love and mercies are new every morning.
Everyday we are given a new opportunity to discover and experience more of God’s love. Even when there is uncertainty or sorrow we can still look around for signs of God’s mercy. In every sunrise, In every new flower that blooms, everytime a bird sings their spring song. I love that God wrote his promises in creation. He knew we would forget, but He tells creation to sing a new song every morning. He paints the sky with new colors. He gives the birds a new song to sing. To remind us of His faithfulness and steadfast love.
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3
Have you ever doubted that spring would come? I mean after the 3rd snow storm this winter I was convinced it would be the never ending winter. But I always knew eventually spring would show up, and with it sunshine, warm weather and the promise of new beginnings. I never once went to bed and doubted that the sun would come up the next morning. Have you? Then why do we doubt that the creator of the sun, moon and stars would forget about us? “As surely as the sunrises He will appear.” He promises to be faithful to us, to be there in the midst of our despair, of our loneliness, our hopelessness. Even when we feel completely cut off from the rest of the world. Know that the God of creation sends us reminders of His steadfast love and mercies. It’s all around us. In the wind that rustles the trees, in every new blossom, in the waves that crash over the beach and the stars that shine in the darkest of night. They all declare His glory. They all remind us that we are NOT alone and that we are NOT forgotten. So don’t lose HOPE!
In the comments below, how are you holding onto hope?
