I woke up this morning to find the website problem still plagues me. Though my navigation bar continues to wander around, obliterating headings (a minor issue in light of eternity), yet I am not consumed. I did not tear my hair. I did not weep. Though I’m helping launch a terrific new e-book and I want my site to look perfect and professional, the problem remains.
Yet, God is still good, and he is overflowing in mercy.
Because he loves us so very greatly, he extends his compassion each morning without fail. He is a faithful God. I can wait for him, in big things with eternal weightiness and in little things like website technology. He will work out his will in my life through trial and heartache and blessing.
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him” (Lamentations 3:22-25).
How can I know if I truly believe this? The two bold phrases in the passage are from the same Hebrew word, which means: “to bind together by twisting; to be gathered together, to lie in wait; to expect, to look for patiently, to be confident, to trust.”
So, I give myself a test to see where I stand. I ask:
- Have I intertwined myself so thoroughly with the Lord that we are twisted together like rope, bound together in every possible way?
- Do I look toward him with trust and confidence that he will keep his promises?
- Do I place all of my hope in him, waiting expectantly for him to act?
- Is he all I need?
Or with restless agitation and lack of trust:
- Do I untangle myself from him and step away, ripping our bond, wrapping my arms about myself in my despair, turning my back, and doubting his words?
- Do I throw up my hands?
- Do I give up hoping, turning to other things to fill the gaping hole of my need?
- Do I cease expecting his intercession on my behalf?
Even when I do, he is still wrapped around me, eternally committed to me, pulling me back into his twining grasp. He never lets go. He is a faithful God.
“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men” (Lamentations 3:26-33).
Grief comes. Trials befall us. Sometimes we lose it all, all our worldly wealth, maybe our reputations, often those we love. Then there are the minor niggling issues of life on this earth: traffic, broken technology, long lines in stores. Rarely does anything run smoothly.
The effect of the Fall is ever before us. Life is peopled by sinners chafing against other sinners, making bad decisions, choosing wrong company, encountering difficulties.
Silently, we turn our cheek to the smiter; we yield; we bury our face in the dust—perhaps there is hope. God comforts. Here’s how: The bold words in the second passage from Lamentations mean: “to fondle, to soothe, to cherish, to love deeply – like a parent, to be compassionate, to show pity, to be tender, to have mercy.”
Babies evoke this emotion. God gazes upon his people as a father looks upon his small and endearing children. He lifts us into his arms, patting our backs, crooning softly to us, kissing our cheeks, easing our heads onto his shoulder. He carries us about, soothing and rocking and loving.
This is the comfort he gives. We are safe. All is well. He holds us securely.
How has he comforted you lately?
All Images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I just spent 1-1/2 hours on the phone with my hurting brother who is so afraid to lose his youngest son whom he has had a rocky relationship with.
I attempted to comfort him, hinting at the real Source of my comfort, telling him to pray whenever he feels afraid.
His wife just happened to recently attend a church near their home that Chuck & I visited a few times and loved. How cool is that?
I had to assure him that God is near, that God is working, that God loves him and his son. I told him he needs to turn his life over to God.
Praise God that He can comfort others through me!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. – 2 Cor 1:3&4
Amen! A favorite verse! In life’s BIG trials and even in the small, he is a God of comfort and mercy. I’m glad you were able to share that comfort with your friend!
My Father has given me comfort recently by reminding me that He is a promise keeper. And that gives me hope! I can relate to what Rita said. I have a very similar story and it’s heartbreaking. But no matter what the circumstances are, I have “a hope both sure and steadfast, and one that enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us” (Heb.6:19) and “I hold fast the confession of our hope, without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb.10:23).
Thanks for sharing, Holly! What a blessing that our compassionate God and Savior is trustworthy! It is impossible for him to lie. His promises are certain. Therefore, as the heirs of the promise we can fix our hope on our eternity with him. It is sure and steadfast. Praise God for that! We are not consumed.
Melinda, you are SO right! This paragraph of yours says just what I’ve been thinking today (because God has a way of speaking to us several times to get our attention):
“Grief comes. Trials befall us. Sometimes we lose it all, all our worldly wealth, maybe our reputations, often those we love. Then there are the minor niggling issues of life on this earth: traffic, broken technology, long lines in stores. Rarely does anything run smoothly.”
God has been saying to me that I’m measuring success by the wrong scale, because sometimes I think that, if everything runs smoothly, I am in God’s will. If it all goes “wrong,” obviously I was NOT in His will. But, that is NOT true! He is molding me and changing me more when things go “wrong” than He can when it all goes smoothly. When everything is easy, we become complacent and eventually take his blessings for granted. At least I do.
The trials, on the other hand, lead us to the transparency that allows us to comfort others as our Lord wants us to do (as in the verse Rita quoted, 2 Cor. 1:3-4). Thanks for sharing, Melinda, and being transparent, which is a way of comforting others.
You are so right! That reality is completely counter-culture. We expect things to go smoothly when we’re doing what we should do. Maybe that’s why learning this is so difficult for us. The trials of life are a good school!
They certainly are! By the way, I LOVE that photo of Daddy and Baby!!!
Me, too! It captures the exact emotion the word in the passage contains.