I recently attended a meeting from our five county region in northern Virginia. We discussed a growing issue related to helping with the needs of people in our area. The volunteers who deliver food to elderly people frequently face situations of extreme loneliness and abandonment. Our volunteers needed to be trained and prepared to make time for the elderly who are helpless and feel hopeless, often living in isolation. Of course, this is not a new problem. As I thought about that recent meeting, I remembered today's passage. Let's listen to it together:

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23 NASB)

These days, we don't hear very much teaching out of the Book of Lamentations, do we? Part of everyone’s life though, is lamenting. We will all encounter situations in which we face debilitating loss. The writer of today's passage begins by saying, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope." One good rule for biblical understanding is this: when we hear the word "therefore," we must figure out what the word therefore is there for. In this verse, Jeremiah uses therefore to highlight the truth that gives him hope. Let's listen to it again: " This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease." The NIV says it this way, we have hope, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed." That's pretty great, isn't it? You and I have hope in the midst of the overwhelming situations we face in life, because God is always kind and loving and faithful and compassionate toward us. God doesn't serve us leftovers from yesterday. He gives us new compassions every morning.

God is faithful. That's very Good News...so, tell somebody about it, today!