21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:21-23
On the whole, the book of Lamentations is… well, it’s not the cheeriest book of scripture. The title probably gives that away, after all: “lamentations.” When we read the title, we’re not expecting a book of recipes or love poems or miracle stories. It’s a book of… laments. Protests. Grief-stricken grievances. Anguished complaints. Lamentations is set in the midst of a dark and chaotic time in the history of God’s people: the siege of the city of Jerusalem, the utter destruction of God’s temple, the traumatic exile of God’s people. The author (traditionally believed to be the prophet Jeremiah) is writing to make sense of the tragedy, and to give voice the deep suffering that is his experience of it.
So… not the cheeriest book of scripture.
But even Lamentations — dark, angry, woeful Lamentations — can offer us a word of inspiration, a word of hope. It’s our word of scripture for today: that even in the midst of all-out destruction and suffering, hope remains. God’s mercy remains. God’s steadfast love remains, because God’s faithfulness remains. We need only ‘call it to mind.’
21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:21-23
If the author of Lamentations can manage to call hope to mind — and not only hope, but mercy, faithfulness, and steadfast love, too — and can do it in the midst of such untold destruction and suffering… then surely, in this season (a difficult season, to be sure), we can call hope to mind, too.
I’m sure that’s why this scripture passage has been running through my mind these past several days. It’s been my recurring chorus of hope, a hope rooted in God’s mercy, God’s faithfulness, God’s steadfast love.
I’d be eager to hear what scriptures have been running through your minds, scriptures that help you to feel grounded and rooted and peaceful and hopeful. I think it’s so important for us to share those words of peace and hope with one another.
Those of you who subscribe to our Wesley e-news will soon receive an invitation to something called “Flip Grid.” It’ll be one more way for us to connect with another — this time, by sharing our favorite scripture verses via brief videos. You’ll receive an invite soon. I hope you participate! In the meantime, may you call hope to mind… and may you find new opportunities to share that hope with someone else. We have a powerful hope to share, a hope rooted in the presence of God,
After all …
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
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