The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22, 23 NLT)

At face value these words hold tremendous truth and encouragement for any believer; but when you understand the story behind them, Jeremiah’s words become an anchor for the soul.

Jeremiah is often referred to as “the weeping prophet,” a fitting description of a man whose responsibility was to warn of the impending judgment of God, but whose heart grieved for the people to whom he prophesied.

In the book that bears his name, Jeremiah prophesied God’s judgment. And it came. But Jeremiah authored another book – the book of Lamentations, which is a prayerful, heartfelt, and candid lamentation (grieving) of the suffering of God’s people.

Did God’s people deserve this judgment? Sure. But, just because someone experiences justice for their sin doesn’t mean that others shouldn’t grieve with them and for them.

It is in the midst of the intensity of their suffering that Jeremiah declares these words. From deepest darkness comes a beacon of light and hope, as he declares:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Each of those statements carries tremendous weight. These are not the casual, cute poetic statements of someone whose life is pristine and polished.

These are the words of a man who had been thrown into a pit, who had suffered alongside of his people, who had tried to quit the ministry, but couldn’t, who loved people so much that it hurt.

These words are hope to the oppressed.
Healing to the hurt.
Salvation to the wayward sons and daughters of God.

These are words of life.

Father,
Today I choose to meditate on these four statements. Let them be for me an anchor for my soul.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.