The book of Lamentations is not a cheerful book. It is a collection of poems written in grief, after the destruction of Jerusalem. That is what makes these two verses so remarkable. They do not come from someone whose life was easy. They come from someone standing in ruins who still found a reason to say, "great is thy faithfulness."
Hope, in Scripture, is rarely a denial of pain. It is a decision to remember who God is while the pain is still real. The writer says, "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope" (Lamentations 3:21). Hope began with remembering.
New every morning
God's mercies are not a fixed amount that we slowly use up. They are renewed daily, like manna in the wilderness. You do not need to carry yesterday's portion into today, and you do not need to worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.
This changes the way we can begin each day. Instead of waking up to an inventory of what went wrong, we can wake up to a new supply of grace. The sunrise becomes a small, faithful sermon: God has not run out.
Whatever lies behind you this morning, receive the mercy that meets you here. It is enough for today.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your compassions do not fail. When I wake up remembering my mistakes, help me remember Your mercy first. Give me grace for today and faith to trust You for tomorrow. Amen.
Reflect
- 1What do you usually think about first when you wake up?
- 2What is one evidence of God's faithfulness you can recall from the past week?
