Daily Devotion, September 6, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Lamentations 3:17-24.

  This book, along with many of the Psalms, teaches us the value of lamenting when we are down. It is obvious that for the people of Israel, expressing frustration, anger, sorrow and despair to God was an important part of their relationship with God. Whether they were hurting or scared or lonely or experiencing any other emotions related to struggle, they believed it was important to share that with God. The writer of this passage expresses some feelings of despair: no peace, no prosperity, afflicted and without a home.

  However, in the midst of expressing these feelings and memories, there comes an expression of hope. He knows that God loves him and therefore he has hope. He will make it through this time of struggle. God has been faithful in the past and God will continue to be faithful.

  This is a common practice in the expressions of lament in the Bible: during the time of struggle, take some time to reflect on the past when times were different or when God brought them through an earlier struggle. It is a good lesson for all of us to remember, because we all go through times of struggle and difficulty. Remember what God has done before and let that be a source of hope for what God will do again. Personal Worship Option:

Let the hymn by Thomas Chisholm be your prayer today (with some minor language updates to reflect how we would say it):

Great is your faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with you;

you do not change, your compassions they fail not; as you have been, you forever will be.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endures, your own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is your faithfulness! Great is your faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed your hand has provided; great is your faithfulness, O Lord to me!