Skip to main content

When Troubles Come

The Old Testament Book called “Lamentations” is both a strange and amazing book.

It is strange because, as the title suggests, it is a book of crying. Most likely written by Jeremiah (whose nickname was “The weeping prophet”), this book focuses on how bad things were for the people of God. Their enemies had overrun Jerusalem and had taken their homes, their land, their treasures and even their people. Everything that they hoped in was either destroyed or taken from them. Worst of all, they had caused this trouble themselves because they had not listened to God (Lamentations 1). Things could not be worse for God’s people and Jeremiah spends five chapters crying about their troubles.

The book is also amazing because of Jeremiah’s response to all of this. Right in the middle of the book, he stops and writes, “Yet 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 thy faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” (3:21-24).

Jeremiah stops and remembers that God is with him. Beyond that, he remembers that God is merciful, steadfast, loving and kind to his people even when they have done wrong. He recalls that every day is a new beginning and chance to start over again. He knows that his real hope is not to be found in possessions or things, but in his relationship with God.

I like this book because, like Jeremiah, it is easy for me to see only my problems and my troubles. It easy for me to focus on what is wrong. I sometimes need the reminder that God is alive, well and working in my life.

Our troubles may be real, but so is the God who helps us through them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consider This: What is so Great About Grace?

If you were to drive by our house, you would see that Sara loves plants.  Our yard is full of flowers, and Sara lovingly tends every one of them. Which is why I was so afraid when she left town and put me in charge of keeping things alive. She must have been a little concerned, too, because she sent me two videos with specific instructions on how to water, when to water, and what to do.  Honestly, those first two videos helped, but the third one she sent was the one I liked most.  In that one, she said, “Please do your best. I want the yard to look good for the family reunion in two weeks.  However, if something dies, we will dig it out and pretend that it never existed!” That is what grace looks like!  Try your best, do what you can, but if it goes wrong, it will be ok. Sometimes we talk as though grace and effort are opposites.  That is not true.  They are partners. In one place, scripture asks, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone c...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: Thanksgiving in Real Time

                    Thanksgiving weekend means that many of us will spend time together with family and friends, eat a lot of food and think about what we are thankful for in our lives.   Unfortunately, after that, most will go back to their normal routines and leave thankfulness behind.                   What would happen if thanksgiving were part of our everyday life, rather than something we focused on a few times per year?   Where would we even start?                 According to Philippians 1:18-26, the apostle Paul remained joyful and thankful, even while imprisoned for his faith, by holding on to three important practic...
Post a Comment
Read more

Process Produces Progress (1 Peter)

 Dreams are good. Plans and expectations are fine. However, only by focusing on the process do we find progress.   1 Peter 1:13 tells us what to do to get to where we want to go (point 3 is my favourite!)   https://youtu.be/qyGwN_OOmCQ  
Post a Comment
Read more