Today's blog is a beautiful one, and I find that it resonates with a lot of us because of what the world has been going through this year.
Join me as we dive into the depths of a passage in the Holy Bible's book of Lamentations.
Scripture: Lamentations 3:49-58
Lamentations is a book where we can read about the despair of God's people who are crying out to Him.
The verses that stood out to me in the passage were the following:
Verse 54 - The water rose over my head, and I cried out, "This is the end!"
Verse 55 - But I called out on Your Name, LORD, from deep within the pit.
Verse 56 - You heard me when I cried, "Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!"
Verse 57 - Yes, You came when I called; you told me, "Do not fear."
These passages remind me of the truth that there will always be times in our life when everything is too much to handle. And we will be (figuratively, I hope) in a similar situation as the author of this passage, who thought that it was his demise (verse 54).
But these situations serve as opportunities for us to cry out to the Lord for help (verses 55-56) and witness how He responds to our distress (verse 57).
As Our Daily Bread writer Amy Peterson put it, it is important to recognize "the injustices and broken systems in the world, and lament them." She also gave us new insight into the act of lamenting: it does not mean that we are losing hope, but rather it's a way of being honest with God.
The books of Psalms and Lamentations all express the distress of God's people, their reflections on God's character and their past experiences with Him, and their hope in God in their time of need.
Peterson further reassured us: "Lament is a legitimate response to the reality of suffering, and it engages God in the context of pain and trouble. Ultimately, lament is hopeful: when we lament what is not right, we call ourselves and others to be active in seeking change."
When we encounter challenges in life that distress us or injustices in the system, let's not be afraid to bring up our petitions before God and ask Him to work in our situation. We can also ask Him to use us to fulfill His will so we can bring glory to Him.
Remember, He is always ready to answer and help us — and He acts on our behalf even when we don't immediately recognize His work.
God will bring something new out of our seasons of lament.
Devotional material: Our Daily Bread, vol. 26
Got insights to share about our devotional topic? I'd love to hear about them! Send me a message and let's have a chat.
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