Out of Our Despair Comes Hope

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-26

The book of Lamentations parallels the Psalms in the outpouring of emotion as the writer puts pen to paper. This book is the lament of Jeremiah the prophet as he mourns over the state of Judah and the destruction of the city of God (Jerusalem) in 586 BC. It appears that the labors of the faithful prophet have fallen on deaf ears. His people are shattered and scattered. The temple lies in ruin. God has fled, and it appears that all is hopelessly lost. Lamentations three is the centerpiece of the five chapters of the book. It is three times longer than the other four chapters. It is full of references to misery, anguish, darkness, bitterness -- all depicting the emotional state of the prophet.

I suspect it is included in the canon because we sometimes feel this way. We sometimes move through our day with despair on our minds and hearts. We loathe this life at times. We think that our God is against us and nothing can help. Jeremiah felt this way (consider the graphic image presented in 3:16-18). If we are honest, we, too, feel this way at times. Jeremiah even goes so far as to say, "My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is." (3:17). He even declares that God does not hear his prayers. He writes, "Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer." (3:8). Yet, note that he still pours out his heart. His emotions do not control his actions.

Calvin, commenting on this passage, notes, "whoever is conscious of his own infirmity, and directs his prayer to God, will at length find a ground of hope." (62). Indeed, the prophet finds hope in the face of hopelessness. This hope emerges in 3:21-23: "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Calvin wrote, "We see then that God brings light out of darkness, when he restores his faithful people from despair to a good hope." Despair and great struggle will produce remembrance in the hearts of God's people. That remembrance will lead to a pursuit of comfort as they remember who God is and what he has revealed about himself and says about his love for his people. McKim writes, "This is our great confidence, even when life caves in: in the midst of misery, no matter how bad things get, God's steadfast love and faithfulness bring hope!"

The next time you sing the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," reflect on the truth of the steadfast love of God. Allow that to turn your mourning and struggle to hope. Allow it to warm your mind and heart to the unchanging nature of your God, who loves his people and calls them the apple of his eye.