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. Lamentations 3:21-23

Devotion

I have a dear friend who recently said to me “I didn’t know why God told me to move back.” For the length of our friendship, nearly 20 years, she talked about a specific dream. This dream involved living in a particular part of the country. She knew she would have to work hard to make her dream a reality. There was never a doubt in my mind that she had the work ethic to make it happen. Despite setbacks and world crisis, she was making it.

Then, after a time of fasting, she told me that God wanted her to move. To move away from the land of her dreams and let go out her idea of what the future holds. She did it. She moved back across the country on faith and hope in the Lord. Over the last year, I watched as times grew tough and as she took on jobs that were far from “luxurious.” Her faith never wavered because she knows his faithfulness is great! One day, one step, one prayer at time. 

It was not easy, but doors eventually started opening. God guided her path faithfully. Last week, things changed and she got to clearly see the reason God brought her away from her dream. The best part—he is not done! I don’t know exactly how, but I know God is going to use the skills she honed from her dream to advance his Kingdom and his Church!

Whether this last year was one of the best or the worst years of your life, one thing remains true—great is his faithfulness! We don’t always know exactly why God tells us to do something or go another direction, but he is faithful!

The Israelites had been through quite the journey when the author of Lamentations penned, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope . . . ” Their city was decimated. The land that God had promised to Abraham was taken over by Babylon. The people of God were left in suffering. You can read about this in 2 Kings 24-25. 

The book of Lamentations is five poems of lament about the Israelites’ suffering and pain—suffering brought on by choices they made. Whether you stepped out in faith, or your situation is from your own choices, or you’re in a situation because of someone else’s choices, the truth remains—”The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness.” This is our hope. As you look back on this year, praise God for the good, ask for forgiveness where you strayed, and give forgiveness to those who have sinned against you. There is no better way to end the year well than with gratitude and growth. 

I hope, whether you are in a season of clarity or questioning, that you will remember his mercies are new every morning and he is faithful.

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for your new mercy every morning. Thank you for loving me through all the seasons of life, in times when I follow you faithfully and when I think I know a better way. I confess that I have looked away and lost focus, but you are still there! Thank you, Lord, that we can have hope because of your great faithfulness!

Nevan White
Administrative Assistant for Congregational Care

Resources

• Listen to Keep the Faith: Dr. Ron Fowler by Dr. Ron Fowler and Senior Pastor Marty Grubbs.
• Listen to Great is Thy Faithfulness by Josh Klossner and Jay Rouse.

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