our hope in 2020

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Lamentations 3:1-66. They're not called lamentations for nothing. The writer is lamenting his life, and the struggles that he faces, which he says God has inflicted on him.

But then we turn a corner in verse 21 and he says, "21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

And this speaks right into our lives here in 2020. The author of Lamentations is going through his own personal version of 2020. But probably much worse than any of us have it. And right there in the middle of his grief and his pain, he tells us what to do. Call this to mind. Have hope. Remember that because of God's great love for us, we are not consumed - we're not used up or burned away. His compassion for us NEVER FAILS. His mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness is VERY GREAT. He is good to those of us who wait for Him, who hope in Him. 

So don't be afraid. Don't worry. Don't despair. He hears your prayers. He is already, even now, answering them. Don't ever think He's forgotten about you. His mercies NEVER FAIL. They're new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

God, thank You for reminding us that You are right here with us, in the middle of 2020.