Country Road Faith

O. T. #1842 " Do You Have Hope?"

Dec. 17, 2020

Lamentations 3

LET IT GLOW

Do you have hope as an end comes to such a crazy year? How are you handling things when the world seems upside down? In what do you place your hope for a better today, tomorrow, future?

Things were dark for Jeremiah and his nation. He was under a double load of grief as he spoke of Jerusalem's destruction and recalled his physical scars, as well as emotional scars from his faithful ministry to a people who refused to listen. Jeremiah was the most hated man in Judah whom everyone wanted gone. Ever felt that way?

Don't you know Jeremiah was feeling abandoned, oppressed, humiliated, and bitter? With that setting set, most of us can understand his feelings. We have lost people we loved, or a house we enjoyed living in is gone, or we are let go at our job, or family changes occurr. A feeling of hopelessness sets in as with this prophet. However, hope returned to Jeremiah when he controlled his thoughts, turning them toward God. God's compassions fail not. His unfailing love for us continues no matter our circumstances.

Five times in this chapter Jeremiah mentions the word hope  with various meanings. Let's look at those:

• Verse 18-And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD. Everything Jeremiah hoped for from the Lord is lost! This kind of hope means expectation. Jeremiah was not expecting peace and prosperity in Judah, as his strength perished.
• Verses 21 and 24 have the same meaning-This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. This kind of hope refers to wait; to be patient; stay; tarry; trust. Now we see a change in Jeremiah. He is waiting and trusting in the LORD.
• Verse 26-It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. This kind of hope means to dance; to wait. When we wait on the Lord and seek Him, then we should get up and dance with joy.
• Verse 29-He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there be may be hope. This kind of hope is a cord (an attachment); thing that I long for. This person is throwing their self on the found in silent confession of unworthiness.  There is hope at last-hope in Jesus, the thing we long for above all things; our King and our Lord.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We can sum it up with Romans 8:23-25, which says, And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits-we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we are saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope  because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. (Life Application Study Bible)

 I hope this has uplifted you, friend, as it has me.

LET IT GROW

How can we grow through adversity? Charles Swindoll explains in his study guide, The Lamentations of Jeremiah:

• Wait patiently seeking out God in prayer. (verses 23,25)
• Wait silently for the Lord to deliver us from suffering and to ultimately restore us. (verse26) We are to learn whatever God has for us as we endure our painful experience and trial.
• Submit willingly to God's providence. The Lord will not reject forever. (verses27-31)

Receive God's love, friend. Make Him your hope as you wait patiently, silently, and willingly for Him to deliver you. After all, we have hope of everlasting life in heaven.

LET IT GO

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee. Hearts unfold like flowers before You. Joyful we adore You, King Jesus.

In this world we will have trouble, but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world.

Whatever we suffer in this world will be worth it after all when we see Jesus.

Be faithful, full of hope in Jesus, finish the fight and walk with hope, for there are some good things awaiting us in heaven.