HOPE IN GOD’S GREAT FAITHFULNESS

“His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; GREAT is Your FAITHFULNESS” – Lamentations 3: 22b-23

Few things can sustain the Believer’s Faith like HOPE IN GOD’S GREAT FAITHFULNESS: “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your FAITHFULNESS” (Lam.3: 22-23). The best reason for Hope is God’s Faithfulness. His mercies preserve us from destruction. They are never spent and never stale! They are “Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise” (Lam.3:23, Good News Bible).

The prophet Jeremiah was an eyewitness to Jerusalem’s invasion by Nebuchadnezzar. He recorded his observations in his “diary” – the book of Lamentations. He wrote these words at a time when Israel was suffering much affliction. He described their sin and suffering in chapters 1 and 2, and the destruction of Jerusalem, which was to come soon in all its horror, in the fourth chapter. In this third chapter, he shared his personal pain in verses 1-18. But with a prayer to God to remember his bitter condition, the prophet got his eyes off himself and onto the Lord. Despite the tough and distressing times, he found Hope in God’s Faithfulness. Hope was revived when he remembered God’s Goodness and Faithfulness (vv. 21–24).

As we meditate on what Jeremiah remembered, we’re reminded of God’s Mercies, Compassion and Great Faithfulness:

God’s Mercies: His covenant love or loving kindness; a God-authored steadfast affection that’s based on loyalty or devotion, especially in relationship to the covenant. Out of the faithfulness of His covenant, God grants limitless mercy that can never fail. Jeremiah’s knowledge of God’s mercies kept hope alive in him in spite of the terrible situation he was in. He knew that as bad as things were, but for mercies, they could be worse! God has extended the same mercies His children today; hence He will never forsake us, and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom.8: 31-39).

God’s Compassion: His tender care or unfailing love. By God’s Grace, we shall meditate further on this tomorrow.

As if the mercy and compassion of God aren’t enough to give us hope, we also have His faithfulness.

God’s Great Faithfulness: His steadfastness, firmness, and commitment. The word ‘faithfulness’ comes from a root meaning “permanent, secure, and reliable.” David declared: “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Psa.36:5). God’s steadfastness provides us solidity and stability. When life’s storms rise, God is there in all of His power as solid as a rock – the Anchor to hold on to no matter how high the waves crash or how hard the winds blow. His faithfulness is a great reassurance in these days when people’s hearts are failing them for fear (Lk.21:26).  

At various times, we may experience or witness trials and tests of faith; it may feel like hostile forces are assailed against us. But these times of distress do not last forever. Like Jeremiah, our most sustaining Hope is to reflect upon the Faithfulness of our heavenly Father. We can have Hope even in the gloomiest of situations because God’s mercies never expire.

Jeremiah’s expression of God’s faithfulness is the basis for the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” which extols God for His never-failing mercies, love, and faithfulness. 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee:

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not, as Thou hast been, Thou for ever wilt be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for to-day and bright hope for to-morrow: blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my father, morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

As we sing this meditatively, let’s trust the Lord for fresh blessings from the Lord God all remaining days of our lives!