Henry Cloud & John Townsend - Life JourneySample

God Brings Hope in the Midst of Our Struggles

Jeremiah, traditionally assumed to be the author of Lamentations, has been called “the weeping prophet.” He watched Judah fall. He saw the smoke and ashes rise as the city fell to enemy forces. After seeing some of his countrymen dragged into exile, others forced him to flee with them to Egypt. He wept as he witnessed these tragedies, which were consequences for the people’s unfaithfulness to God.

As the nation’s heavenly Father, God allowed the people of Judah to experience the consequences of their sin. Their move away from dependence on the Lord had led to devastating losses for them. At the same time, even in a downcast state, the author Jeremiah had hope because he knew of God that “though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love” (Lamentations 3:32).

We often experience pain when we reap the consequences of what we have sown in our decisions and relationships (see Galatians 6:7). We may have been self-centered or unloving in a relationship, causing it to end badly. We may have medicated our loneliness with alcohol or other substances and become addicted. Or we may have made impulsive choices and gotten into financial trouble. These consequences are not a punishment from God as much as they are the way he has structured reality. God is trying to reach us and convince us to follow him. In the midst of our pain, rather than blame or give up on God, we need to change, repent and look to his compassion. It is always there, as is his unfailing love.