My favorite chapter that I've practically been clinging to lately has been Lamentations 3. I read it at least once a week. It encourages me SO much, and I wanted to blog about it and share what it's all about to me!
I usually don't read the chapters in the Bible that aren't so "popular". A few months ago, I was reading through my Bible, and came across Lamentations 3 and the chapter was so unbelievably encouraging to me! I'd been going through some things, and felt like I had hit "rock bottom". This passage reminded me of God's purpose in sending us through trials, how to keep having faith and hope, and about God's great faithfulness.
In this chapter, the author Jeremiah is going through a really tough time. He feels cut off from God, and that God isn't listening to him. If you read the previous chapters of Lamentations, you could get a little depressed...just because it seems like all God is doing is putting this person through trial after trial. In verse 8 of chapter 3, he makes the statement: "though I call for help, He shuts out my prayer." Have you ever felt that God "shuts out" your prayers and just ignores you? Well, I have. It's not fun.
I went to a Sunday School class at church a few semesters ago called "Changed Into His Image" by Jim Berg. The illustration he uses to show why we go through trials came to mind as I was reading this chapter. He uses tea bags and hot water. When you dip a tea bag into hot water, what comes out? Whatever is inside. We are the tea bags, and the trials are the hot water. God "dips" us into hot water (trials) to see what flavor will come out of us.
God was dipping Jeremiah in some hot water to see what flavor would come out of him. When I'm facing a tough trial, what flavor comes out of me? If we don't like what comes out, we have to change what's inside. Why does God send us through hardships? You can find that answer in Hebrews 12. God chastens us (sends us through trials) because He loves us, and He wants us to become more and more like Him!
God doesn't send us through trials just for entertainment. Sometimes we need them! Jeremiah is about to give up hope. In verse 17 he says he doesn't know what happiness is anymore. In verse 18 he says that his endurance is gone, as well as his hope in the Lord. In verse 21 he remembers that he does have hope! This is my favorite part of the chapter. Jeremiah's tune changes in verse 22. He recalls the goodness of God, and His great faithfulness to see us through anything!
My favorite verses are 22 and 23. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
When you feel like you can't do it anymore, wait on God. He is still there. Keep hope. When your put through hot water, what flavor will come out of your tea bag?
"The LORD is good to those who will wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." --Lamentations 3:25,26
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