| JUNE THEME: Visions of Hope |
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“My eyes flow with tears.” “Terrors on every side.” “Destruction and wounds.” Have you heard any of these words or phrases lately? Perhaps these are phrases you have heard this week. What if I told you these words were spoken thousands of years ago?
“This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears.” Lamentations 1:16.
“Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.” Lamentations 3:48.
“As you summon to a feast day, so you summoned against me terrors on every side.” Lamentations 2:22.
“Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?” Lamentations 2:13.
These are all words of the prophet Jeremiah.
In writing the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah expressed his sorrow about the destruction of God’s Holy City and Temple as a result of Israel’s rebellion. Jeremiah had ministered to the people for over forty years and his heart was filled with sorrow because he thought his ministry was in vain. But Jeremiah’s ministry was not in vain; in fact, through this lamenting, he reminds us of three things:
1. God is faithful.
No matter what, God is always faithful and keeps his promises. If God promises to bless, he will bless. If he promises to discipline, he will discipline. The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word, which he decreed long ago. Lamentations 2:17
2. Because he is faithful, he shows love and compassion.
When we feel overwhelmed, we must look to God for help.
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. Lamentations 3:22-26
3. He will help us and give us hope.
When faced with difficult times, we must desperately seek God in prayer because he is our hope and he will defend.
Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust-there may yet be hope. Lamentations 3:28-20
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Blessings,
Pastor Alicia LaFleur
Next Steps Pastor
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