“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. But I call this 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.” Lamentations 3:19–23
Dear Jesus, once again we bless you for the “humanness” of your Word. Jeremiah was living in an “awful time”—a stretch of life that brought with it “the grief of loss.” We don’t know all the details, but we do appreciate his honesty. And we also appreciate his wisdom. “Calling to mind” you and your steadfast love was better than a lot of other choices he could have made.
You told us life between your resurrection and return will bring both wonderful and woe-full experiences—things that generate the shout, “Thank you Lord!”; and things that fuel the cry, “How long O Lord?” Indeed, “in this world we will (not might) have trouble; but we also have you, your peace, and the guaranteed outcome of you overcoming the world for us (John 16:33). Thank you. We’re also grateful that (unlike Jeremiah), we live on this side of your finished cross, empty tomb, and occupied throne.
Jesus, help us call all these things to mind when life is messy, impossible, crushing, even mildly disappointing. We’re always calling something or someone to mind—especially when we’re in our version of an “awful time.”
Help us break the cycle of blaming, “cynical-sizing” (new word), recalling everybody else’s sins (but our own), wallowing in shame, heaping on contempt, forgetting the Gospel. When we let our minds drift (or run) to these places, it only sabotages hope, robes you of glory, and makes everybody miserable. Forgive and free us. For new morning mercies and your steadfast love, we give you praise Jesus. So Very Amen.