Dare to Hope

 One of my favorite passages is in Lamentations 3. We talk a lot about how God's mercies are new every morning. Now, God doesn't have a morning, so He must push that refresh button just for our mornings! 

As I was looking at this passage last week, I backed up a bit and camped in a verse or two before that one. The NLT says, The thought of my suffering and moelessness is bitter beyond words. (V.19) Have you ever been in that spot? Those times when the living grief, or loss, has eaten up both your emotions and your words? I call those times, sit, drink coffee, stare at the wall times. 

But the writer didn't stop there. He goes on to say, I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Boy, can I relate to that. There are days when my memories are nice and friendly, other days they rip at my heart and I struggle with my emotions. It's a little bit comforting to know that God used this writer and he felt these same types of emotions without judgment or condemnation. After all, God let it be put in the Holy Scriptures.

But look at verse 21. YET, I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love (mercies) of the Lord never ends. By His mercies, we have been kept from complete destruction. (NLT)

God doesn't condemn the grief. Remember when Jesus came back to raise Lazarus from the dead? (John 11) He didn't gripe at anyone for grieving over their loss. He kept trying to tell Mary and Martha that He was the resurrection! They didn't quite get it. But He did not put them down or berate them for "not believing." He didn't even get upset that they didn't understand. He stepped right into their world and made everything right. 

I know He's not coming riding in on His white horse for us. But He does walk right into our mess. And He's fearless! He's unmoved. He is determined to reach us. He understands our emotions and how fragile they can be. But He still comes right on into our caregiving crazy - and He won't even flinch! :-)

Today, I'll dare to hope because I remember that He is still with me (by choice!), and nothing about Him is going to fail - EVER! I have mercies for today. His love is already in my day, waiting for me. His choice is to continue walking with me through every caregiving moment, good and bad. He won't leave - even when I "lose it." I can dare to hope that He is right here for me right now and I can trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

Check out my latest release. Command Your Morning part 2. This 31-day devotional is the second one in my series Command Your Morning. (Yes, I already started on part 3 - and you're gonna love it!) Take a 31-day journey through Psalm 119 as you practice setting your intention to point your heart at God each day. It's available on Kindle and Print. Check it out!