PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Lamentations 3
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.” (Lamentations 3:33)
It is not pleasant to imagine the horrible things described here.
What makes it harder is that God is viewed as the cause (not blame) for it.
“The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel.” (Lamentations 2:5)
But the author also recognizes that God’s heart is not behind it.
God does not willingly allow suffering, but sometimes has no choice.
When we keep stubbornly running away, sometimes God reluctantly lets us.
Our world is the mess it is because God allows us the freedom to choose.
God is not punishing us, but showing us what life is like without God.
As long as sin remains in the world, suffering will remain in the world.
But God’s heart breaks as it does, and feels our misery deeply.
“His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22)
The root meaning of the word compassion is ‘to suffer with’.
Jesus suffered with and for us to break the grip of sin and suffering.
We may be suffering now, but God suffers with us and will help us through it.
PRAYER
Lord, I’d prefer that you would end suffering, but that is not how it works. Help us feel your presence through the darkness and your strength through suffering.
You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life. Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!” I think of people persecuted for their faith – who are tortured in an effort to get them to deny their faith. Why do some believers have to suffer so! It is still happening today. Why am I getting off easy? Is there something I’m not learning – that I am missing in my growth in the faith? I too must hold onto my faith even when there are discouraging things happening in the church – liberalities or orthodoxies – either way people are shut out – and many leave Jesus behind (more critical than leaving a church) because they write off Christians. Lord help me to have a loving attitude even to the totally unbelieving- that I might win some be your spirit – all whom you have called!
We were created to serve the Lord.
However, all too often I go my own way, doing my own thing without the Lord.
He disciplines to bring me back or to bring back His people to serve Him. The Lord is good to those who hope in Him, who seek His way.
I need to put God first in all things and He will take care of me. I need to feel His presence every hour and I live for him today and always.
I need Thee every hour
Most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh
I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee