Tag: Lamentations 3

New Mercies Every Morning

The past couple of days have been rough. My mood has been very, very low. I had a Dr.’s appointment yesterday that really discouraged me. Just the way I was treated. And I have to admit, I didn’t have the greatest response, which made me feel even worse.

But thanks to my Hubby coming home from work early, and my Mom coming up to visit, I was able to begin feeling better. I’ve been extremely tired and have slept a lot, but today I am starting to get a few things done.

The sunrise this morning was beautiful. I went outside to scrape the frost off of my husband’s car, and the layers of color in the sky reminded me of God’s promise of new mercies each day. And that’s what I need to rely on.

That, and the care and support of my family and friends. I truly am blessed. And I will continue to move forward–one baby step at a time. Although it is extremely discouraging that my mental health has been in such a bad condition for so many years…I must believe that God has a purpose in it, and that some day He will bring me out to a place of abundance.

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”

– Lamentations 3:22-23

Photo Credit: Unknown

My Source of Hope

what-gives-me-hopeWhat gives you hope? According to Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, it is God’s grace that gives him hope. He states: “What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.”

I would have to agree. Without God’s grace, I would not have the strength to fight the mental battles of anxiety and OCD, to wrestle with doubt and discouragement, to accomplish daily tasks, to embrace change, or to face life’s difficulties head-on.

“And He [Jesus] has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB) It certainly doesn’t make sense: that when we are at our weakest, it is then that we are actually at our strongest. Not because of who we are or what we can do, but because of God’s power residing within us. Realizing that we don’t need to rely on ourselves to get through each day is certainly a great cause for hope.

Have you ever read Lamentations 3? It is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. After the author of the book (probably Jeremiah the Prophet) weeps and laments profusely regarding the condition of the people of Israel, he calls to mind a truth that gives him hope.

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Because of God’s presence and His power, we can have peace. We can have hope for the future, knowing that the Lord is in control. Our heavenly Father sees our difficulties, and promises to be with us right there in the midst of them.

What is it that gives you hope?