Lamentations 3:24-26
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those who await Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.”
Thoughts from Pastor Stuart
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
Lamentations 3 is such a powerful and convicting chapter. The prophet Jeremiah opens the chapter in verses 1-18 with a recount of all the ways he is suffering. His words are incredibly harsh and heavy. He ends that section in verse 18 with a statement that literally hurts to read. He says, “So I say, “My strength has failed, and so has my hope from the Lord.”
And then in verse 19 it’s like he totally shifts. He moves from lamenting to praising, from heart ache to worship. It’s really so incredibly powerful and if you have time to go read the whole chapter, I highly recommend it.
But what I really want to point out here is how Jeremiah surrenders in his praise. I think this chapter, heck the whole book of Lamentations, highlights one really important truth about God: He is not afraid of nor does He reject us in the middle of our struggles. On the contrary, He welcomes us and bids us to wrestle through our hurts, our frustrations, and our pain. And all the while, His loving hands are upon us, guiding and tending to our broken hearts.
Make it Real
I don’t know about you, but there has been this tendency in me to have it all together. I worry that God will be displeased with me if I think or say the wrong thing, if I’m not 100% happy and 100% on board with what He is doing all the time. I often find that in my mind, I have mistakenly assumed that obedience meant that I never struggle. I have worried, somewhat subconsciously, that God would turn His face from me in disgust if I acknowledged or expressed my fears, my frustrations, or my doubts.
But the beautiful truth that Jeremiah realized is that God is big enough and strong enough to handle anything I feel, think, or say. As a friend of mine is prone to say, “God is the only one who is capable of perfectly handling your anger.”
And it’s true! No other person in this world can so perfectly take and tend to our hurt like God can. Not only is He big enough, but He is good enough! His mercies are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness! Praise God!
So, the next time you are struggling to acknowledge and express the uglier feelings or thoughts inside you, remember that God loves you enough to meet you in the middle of it. He loves you enough to embrace even the ugliest parts of you. He died to save you- all of you- even the parts that are not socially acceptable or polished and clean. He is enough when you cannot be!
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for always being my safe place. Thank You for being my fortress and my stronghold. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and Your faithfulness never ceases! Thank You that no matter what, You love me and You are here for me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen!