"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD." Lamentations 3:22-26

The book of Lamentations is exactly that: words of loud lamenting. Disaster had befallen Israel because of their wickedness, and the city of Jerusalem was largely deserted and lying in ruins. Those looking for encouragement and uplifting reading today will not likely turn to this book, but there is a hopeful bright spot as we have just read in chapter 3. As bad as things appear, all is not lost. The God of covenant does not forever forsake His people. His lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness ever extend to His people whom He loves.

This truth and these words are the basis for a well-loved hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness. God is ever faithful, even when we are faithless. Every morning offers us a fresh start with His unfailing compassion, no matter how badly we failed Him yesterday.

A key word twice mentioned in these verses is the word, "hope." When we recall God's promises, we are hopeful. Because we belong to Yahweh, we have hope. And sometimes we hang on to this hope is if it were a thread. Circumstances may seem dire and desperate, as they were for the human writer of Lamentations. But, "this I recall to my mind." When we pause to think how God has provided and led in the past, our hope is renewed. God has not led us to abandon us!

"The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD." From the valley of despair it is important that we wait and seek Him in silence. Fretting and worrying is a natural response, but a supernatural response to circumstances in waiting and seeking Him results in greater good. He will not shout above the noise of our world, but He will quietly speak and reassure as we wait in silence.

Will you carve out some time today to seek God and wait silently for Him? It will involve the sacrifice of some time and activity, but the reward will far outweigh any sacrifice. From the ashes of defeat and despair, hope will arise as you wait on Him.

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