READ: Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I doubt many people consider Lamentations their favorite book of the Bible. There are very few nonacademic books or devotionals about it. There is one exception — a single section in the middle of the book. The tone shifts from woeful to hopeful in Lamentations 3 22-24. These words light up like a rainbow after a hurricane. After a storm of sadness, a glimmer breaks through with a message of hope. He writes, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:33). You can almost hear the joy in his raspy voice, can’t you? Celebration breaks out in the middle of devastation. Where does Jeremiah find hope? In God’s mercy and steadfast love.
Isn’t it confusing that Jeremiah could praise God for his faithfulness while his childhood home was still in shambles? Since the siege, he attended dozens of funerals, he witnessed a sacred city wiped off the map, and he watched the temple crumble to the ground. How can he reconcile the promises of Abraham after watching an evil king turn their Promised Land into a pit of despair? Through it all, he praises God for his faithfulness, love, and mercy. These words didn’t magically fix his situation, but they did make it more bearable. Jeremiah is essentially saying, “Life is hard, but God is good.”
I love the language here when it says that God’s mercies “are new every morning.” As the sun kisses the horizon, God dishes out another portion of mercy for you. Different versions of the Bible use different words in place of “mercy.” Some say compassion and others say lovingkindness (what a cool word). The Hebrew word doesn’t just mean mercy in the context of forgiveness. God’s “morning mercy” is so much bigger than that. It’s the strength you need just when you need it. It’s the rest you need when you’re running on empty. It’s the comfort that you need when chaos abounds. It’s everything you need to help you get through.
“One day at a time” is a common phrase in group therapy. From AA classes to grief support groups, people are challenged to take their recovery “one day at a time.” Jeremiah echoes this advice. God will give you the strength you need — one day at a time. Every new sunrise gives you new strength. When we lament, mourn, or grieve, we often get swallowed up in anxiety about the future or agony from the past. If you want to get through this in one piece, then you need to take it one day at a time. Don’t invest today’s mercy in tomorrow’s problems. Fight that urge. God has given you exactly what you need exactly when you need it.
Grieving is a journey. Morning mercies are your fuel. Scripture is your guide. Restoration is your destination. You will get there eventually, but time travel doesn’t exist. Work through the process with God. You’re going to get through this; just take it one day at a time.