November 3, A Crisis of Faith (part 2)
In the midst of a crisis, when God seems distant or even absent, how can you hold tight to the reality of faith?
Within a message from Lamentations there are three simple yet powerful reminders of our faith in the midst of a crisis. These reminders become expressed from within a context of troubling times in the life of Jeremiah, who despite immense discouragement, held to the truth (Lamentations 3:21-23). The first of these reminders was shared in the devotion for November 2. Today, let’s look at the second truth from the third chapter of Lamentations.
Reminder #2 – God’s lovingkindness toward us is never disputed nor interrupted by life’s crises (22). In the midst of despair, the prophet Jeremiah called to His mind a hope (verse 21). And what was this hope to which Jeremiah held? The answer comes from verse 22:
The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
Let’s consider two specific terms: lovingkindness (racham) and compassions (checed). Lovingkindness represents God’s deeply felt love. The second term, compassions, represents God’s beneficent love – His covenant love, His favor, and His mercies. These two terms used together demonstrate the very real, felt, and penetrating love that breaks through our dark circumstances and the fear and discouragement such circumstances create. Jeremiah recounts this amazing description of God’s love for His own in the midst of dark days. And the prophet’s hope remained because His focus was on the undeniable covenant love of our God.
Today, the prophet’s words demonstrate to us the personal expression of the love of God in the midst of our crisis. God always loves His own through seasons of suffering by demonstrating His compassion and His mercies. This is the hope spoken of earlier, and this is your hope to which you must call to mind. He will love you through your time of crisis. And, please remember that the usage of the words “never cease” and “never fails” indicates that you will never be shut off from His covenant love, even when in the midst of your circumstance God seems distant. His love proves His eternal faithfulness, and His very near presence.
This Old Testament truth foreshadows the truth we read about in the New Testament: “But if God did not withhold His only Son from us, how will He not with Him give us all things.” (Romans 8:32) With this amazing truth, my heart remembers the old yet powerful and meaningful hymn:
“Oh the Love God! How rich and pure, and how measureless and strong. It will forevermore endure, the Saints and angel’s song” (Frederick M. Lehman, “The Love of God,” 1917).
And this becomes your song right now because of Jesus. Our Savior has proven that God is very active in your present difficulties with undeniable promise, presence, and power. If God seems distant, simply call to mind the hope of His love that is very sure and very real toward you at this moment.
I recently read from “The Journal of Advertising” research that determined there has been an odd decline of the reference of love in popular music. The Washington Post reported the same in major movies. The conclusion, one writer submitted, is that “America is growing bored with love.” I find this sad but nonetheless expected, for love continues to be treated as a commodity of man instead of a miracle from God. But God’s love toward us, the only true definition and source of love, is nothing short of a miracle. Through Jesus, He has literally stepped into our darkness and rescued us from the depth of our despair. And He has invited us to trust in Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. His love is miraculous indeed.
Today, perhaps you feel an overwhelming sense of despair or uncertainty. Personally, I do not. There exists great peace and tranquility residing in God’s love daily experienced through a relationship with Jesus. No fretting here. Only resting.
So today, follow Jeremiah’s example, and allow your hope to turn to God’s great love. And then share His love with someone. Actively live out His love. For, this is the great need of the day before us.
Blessings.