Every Morning - Lamentations 3:22-23

Seek God Together

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Today we will read Lamentations 3:22-23. Here’s what they say, “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”

These are popular verses. And for good reason. They are soaring, beautiful statements of the unending faithfulness of God and the instantaneous access we have to His mercy. I fear though that the context is lost. You might have noticed the name of the book - Lamentations. The writer - Jeremiah - is lamenting. What is he lamenting? The destruction of his city and his people. Why was Jerusalem destroyed? Because of its sin. And yet he’s appealing to the ever-available mercy of God.

How are you? Have you conquered those gnawing sins and imperfections once and for all? Are you on the mountaintop? Or have you fallen off the wagon and slammed into the rocks? Probably depends on the day. It’s all too human.

I have sobering news and good news. Let’s start with the sobering. You are real. Your decisions and actions are real. The universe, the laws of physics, this world, relationships, consequences - they are all too real. God does not magically erase your memories. He does not turn a bullet into an angel feather. As much as my heart breaks to say, too often the consequences of our sin hurt ourselves and others. And it would be unwise to presume on God to violate the norms of the world He has made. This is a sobering, but powerful consideration as you and I are are often tempted to willfully sin.

But the good news - the mercies of God are immediately, unflinchingly, generously, freely available to you right now. You don’t have to sit alone with your failure. The grossest sin, as crushing as it is for you, is an absolute pleasure for God to deal with. Only He has all the resources, and has already made all provision to deal with every last bit of your imperfection and issues. Your junk is not shocking to God. That which horrifies you was on His mind and on the cross long ago. You honor Him most by boldly going to Him. As you are now.

This shouldn’t surprise us. Relationships are serious business - most of all with God. Note then the reality and the soaring character of God as you set out on your day.

“God, have mercy on me - a sinner. And while I boldly ask that you spare me from the natural consequences of my sin, I understand the realities on the ground. Thank You for Your mercies which are far more substantive and lasting than this current life. And give me wisdom, and a willing spirit not to sin, but to obey, and follow You into the flourishing You’ve intended for me all along.”