“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” Lamentations 3:32 NIV ®
This is probably one of the most difficult truths to understand about our God. There is an aspect of our nature that causes us to think we don’t deserve tough times. After all, we have placed our faith in the God of love and mercy, the God of grace and forgiveness. When we begin thinking we don’t deserve the tough times, we easily can fall into the victim mindset and the victim mindset can become a death spiral leading us deeper into the pit of self-pity and away from self-awareness that we too have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Jeremiah said in vs 19 that he remembered his wanderings. We all have wandered. David once said he was thankful the Lord didn’t dole out the full punishment his sins deserved. If we are honest and if we are humble and if we have any inkling of the holiness of God, we would be grateful God doesn’t cause us the greatest of grief and that would be to cast us away forever. Yet, as Jeremiah said in vs 23 “Great is Your faithfulness”, so we continue to live by faith in the living and just God who gave all who have placed their faith in Him and Him alone, the seal of His Holy Spirit who will carry us through whatever we must endure during this brief time on this earth.
Jeremiah writes in vs 21 “this I call to mind and therefore, I have hope.” Do you have hope today?
“Good morning Lord. How I wish I were stronger and even sinless. How I long for the day when I will no longer be tempted to wander. How I long for the day when my soul will know no more conflict. Till then Lord, I thank You for forgiving me and plead Lord, that You hold me ever closer and away from the tempters wares. Guard my heart Lord. Please guard my heart. I want nothing to come between us. This I ask in the name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen”