by Cindy Geyer
Living Word:
Yet, this I recall to mind; therefore, I have hope…Lamentations 3:21
Word In Motion:
So much has happened in this last year, some of it good and some of it bad. Many have lost loved ones due to COVID-19, cancer, and other circumstances. In the support group for the disease I have, 6 people have died from COVID-19, just in the last 2 weeks. Many are struggling due to finances and lack of fellowship with family and friends. There are people in physical pain and emotional pain. Loss, fear, loneliness, discouragement etc... so many prayer requests for help.
I have suffered through many of these circumstances. Death, grief, fear, physical pain and even loneliness. There have been times that I am so overwhelmed by the emotions and pain, that I cannot think straight and want to whine or even give up…
In Lamentations 3, King Solomon says how the bitterness and the gall have overwhelmed him and his soul is downcast within him. He says he well remembers them, meaning he dwells in them, or as my mom used to say, “wallows in them”. They have consumed him, and his soul sinks into despair.
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet, this I recall to mind; therefore, I have hope…
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-23
Then something within Him pauses and grasps onto a truth…
YET (definition: nevertheless; in spite of the bitterness, even so, still, however,) in all the bitterness and discouragement, he pauses and chooses to recall something that gives hope, something that strengthens his soul…
God is faithful, and His love never fails. He responds with the knowledge that God IS his source of help, comfort, strength, and his portion. He recalls that God’s compassion for him fails not and through His mercies he is not consumed. So, therefore he will hope in Him.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3:22
I realize that I can tend to wallow in my despair and remember it well. Fear, worry, discouragement, sorrow can overwhelm me. My soul becomes downcast with in me.
A verse I hold close to my heart is Isaiah 40:28 - Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of universe. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Did you read that? God’s understanding no one can fathom. He understands our circumstances, our emotions, our hearts. An understanding no one can fathom. Wow!
The whole chapter of Isaiah 40 is the Lord telling us to recall who He is. Reminding us of His strength and compassion. His understanding that no one can fathom. His depth of love, compassion, and understanding for our situations that no one can measure or grasp. It is so deep, so high, so wide, and so long. An understanding that bridges the gap between despair and comfort.
Like Solomon, I must pause in the pain, in the sorrow, in the despair and cry out, Yet…
To recall who my God is and therefore have hope. So here it goes….
My God is full of compassion and understanding. Through His mercies I will not be consumed. He is faithful; therefore, I have hope.
I recall also that He is my mediator. He stands before the Father interceding on my behalf. How can I be consumed by this world when I have Jesus, the Son of God praying and interceding for me? There is no way God would not answer his prayers. Therefore, I have hope.
This I will remember and will not despair: When I grieve, He is understanding and compassionate. When I am afraid, He is there. When I fall, He is there to pick me up, When I struggle, he is interceding on my behalf. When I am weak, He is strong. Though the earth gives way, and the world is uncertain…I will not fear! My God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He is my portion. Therefore I have hope”.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46;2
So, in this new year, 2021, when you are feeling discouraged, fearful, overwhelmed, or maybe just wallowing, pause and recall this to mind and therefore have hope:
He is the everlasting God, compassionate and full of understanding. His mercies are new every morning, you will not be consumed. His love never fails. He is your refuge and strength, your ever-present help in times of trouble.
Great is your faithfulness.
Therefore, I have hope.
Living Word:
Yet, this I recall to mind; therefore, I have hope…Lamentations 3:21
Word In Motion:
So much has happened in this last year, some of it good and some of it bad. Many have lost loved ones due to COVID-19, cancer, and other circumstances. In the support group for the disease I have, 6 people have died from COVID-19, just in the last 2 weeks. Many are struggling due to finances and lack of fellowship with family and friends. There are people in physical pain and emotional pain. Loss, fear, loneliness, discouragement etc... so many prayer requests for help.
I have suffered through many of these circumstances. Death, grief, fear, physical pain and even loneliness. There have been times that I am so overwhelmed by the emotions and pain, that I cannot think straight and want to whine or even give up…
In Lamentations 3, King Solomon says how the bitterness and the gall have overwhelmed him and his soul is downcast within him. He says he well remembers them, meaning he dwells in them, or as my mom used to say, “wallows in them”. They have consumed him, and his soul sinks into despair.
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet, this I recall to mind; therefore, I have hope…
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-23
Then something within Him pauses and grasps onto a truth…
YET (definition: nevertheless; in spite of the bitterness, even so, still, however,) in all the bitterness and discouragement, he pauses and chooses to recall something that gives hope, something that strengthens his soul…
God is faithful, and His love never fails. He responds with the knowledge that God IS his source of help, comfort, strength, and his portion. He recalls that God’s compassion for him fails not and through His mercies he is not consumed. So, therefore he will hope in Him.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3:22
I realize that I can tend to wallow in my despair and remember it well. Fear, worry, discouragement, sorrow can overwhelm me. My soul becomes downcast with in me.
A verse I hold close to my heart is Isaiah 40:28 - Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of universe. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Did you read that? God’s understanding no one can fathom. He understands our circumstances, our emotions, our hearts. An understanding no one can fathom. Wow!
The whole chapter of Isaiah 40 is the Lord telling us to recall who He is. Reminding us of His strength and compassion. His understanding that no one can fathom. His depth of love, compassion, and understanding for our situations that no one can measure or grasp. It is so deep, so high, so wide, and so long. An understanding that bridges the gap between despair and comfort.
Like Solomon, I must pause in the pain, in the sorrow, in the despair and cry out, Yet…
To recall who my God is and therefore have hope. So here it goes….
My God is full of compassion and understanding. Through His mercies I will not be consumed. He is faithful; therefore, I have hope.
I recall also that He is my mediator. He stands before the Father interceding on my behalf. How can I be consumed by this world when I have Jesus, the Son of God praying and interceding for me? There is no way God would not answer his prayers. Therefore, I have hope.
This I will remember and will not despair: When I grieve, He is understanding and compassionate. When I am afraid, He is there. When I fall, He is there to pick me up, When I struggle, he is interceding on my behalf. When I am weak, He is strong. Though the earth gives way, and the world is uncertain…I will not fear! My God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He is my portion. Therefore I have hope”.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46;2
So, in this new year, 2021, when you are feeling discouraged, fearful, overwhelmed, or maybe just wallowing, pause and recall this to mind and therefore have hope:
He is the everlasting God, compassionate and full of understanding. His mercies are new every morning, you will not be consumed. His love never fails. He is your refuge and strength, your ever-present help in times of trouble.
Great is your faithfulness.
Therefore, I have hope.
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