Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall! Mt soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lam. 3:19-24
Dear Heavenly Father, you neither slept nor slumbered last night—faithfully caring for us all night long. And now we begin this day with the assurance of your steadfast love and with a fresh supply your mercies for the day. We join the prophet Jeremiah in calling to mind your great love and your great faithfulness. In fact, we can “call to mind” much more of your love and faithfulness than Jeremiah could; for our place in the history of redemption is to be much preferred over his.
Jeremiah lived his days looking forward to the coming of Jesus, and the fulfillment of the promises of the new covenant you made through him (Jer. 31:31-34; 1 Peter 1:10-12). But we live on this side of this promised grace and fulfilled events. How much louder should be our praise; quicker our repentances and greater our hope.
It’s only because you gave the Jesus to us and for us, that we’re not consumed with guilt and paralyzed with fear. Because of what Jesus has done for us, you have forgiven all our wickedness and will never remember our sins against us (Jer. 31:34). He became sin for us on the cross that we might receive your righteousness in life (2 Cor. 5:21). Thus, we look at Jesus and loudly proclaim, “The Lord Our Righteous Savior” (Jer. 33:16)—the Lord, my righteousness!
Father, it’s because of this gospel—this good news, that we can also join Jeremiah in owning and lamenting our wanderings. With humility we still sing, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” O, how we need the gospel every day and every hour. O, for the Day when we will no longer even be tempted to sin. Hasten that Day, but until then, please don’t let our hearts and feet wander far.
When we lose sight of Jesus’ beauty and bounty, make the gall more galling, make the bitterness more bitter, make downcast feel even more downcast. We don’t want to ever get used to feeling disconnected from you, for you are our “portion” (Lam. 3:24 )—our satisfaction, delight and inheritance. We will wait for you, Father… gracious Abba, Father. In you we will dare to hope. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ powerful and tender name.