Day 7

Over the past six days you’ve read about how God comforts us in our loneliness. 

· God knows your name and promises to be with you.

· The Spirit of Jesus is constantly with you.

· God wants his children to depend on him as their loving father.

· Jesus meant for his church to act like a loving family to each other. 

· God invites you to seek him. He promises to take you in.

· God will redeem all your pain for an eternally good purpose.

Today’s scripture comes at the end of a lament—an anguished cry to God. The speaker of this lament has “forgotten what happiness is” (Lamentations 3:17 ESV). He feels trapped, unheard, desolate. Yet despite his pain, he finds hope in recalling what he knows about God. 

Like the writer of today’s Scripture passage, you can call to mind things you know about God—even the things you’ve learned this week. You can have hope in the midst of your loneliness.

Pray

I’m finding it hard to wait on your timing, Lord. Help me believe that you are going to deliver me.

Read

Read this passage twice, asking God to show you how it applies to your life.

Lamentations 3:22-25

Reflect

How long is it going to be like this? When are you going to comfort me? If you’ve asked these questions, you’re echoing the questions of God’s people throughout the ages. The Bible records many laments and cries like these—yet, despite our changing circumstances, God never changes. He always acts in love towards his people.

Respond

What do you think it means when the speaker says that the Lord is his “portion” (ESV) or “inheritance” (NLT)? The language gives the sense that the speaker feels he has certain rights when it comes to God. What are the certainties, or the “rights” from God that you can count on? Look back at the list of what you’ve read about God at the beginning of this day’s reading. Write down some of these promises, and post these reminders around your house in places where you’ll see them often. Ask God to use his Word to give you hope.