New Mercies

In Christ, we have a God who offers each day anew, bright with the promise of His love and faithfulness. “His mercies never end. They are new every morning,” says Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations (chapter 3, verses 22 and 23). In this book, Jeremiah, who is known as the “weeping prophet,” laments over the destruction of the city of Jerusalem. The kingdom of Judah has gone into exile, and God has used the wicked kingdom of Babylon to accomplish this. In chapter 1, Jeremiah mourns, knowing that God’s people were rightly facing judgment for their rebellion against God’s just commands (verse 18). In chapter 3, Jeremiah vividly describes his physical, emotional, and mental state in light of the tragedies that have taken place. Although this chapter begins with tangible sorrow and heaviness, there is a powerful little word in verse 21—“yet.” In the middle of all the brokenness, there is still hope stemming from the Lord’s great love, mercy, and faithfulness. God had promised that judgment would not be the end of the story for His people. While a holy and just God must deal with sin, He is also rich in mercy and compassion. Through faith in Jesus—the Savior who died on the cross for our sins—we are never completely cut off from the God who loves us (Lamentations 3:31; Romans 8:38-39). God does not delight in judgment, and His arms are ever open for us to turn to Him (Lamentations 3:33, 40). His faithfulness is great, and His mercies are unending (Lamentations 3:22-23)! Therefore, when we feel trapped by our sin, we need only come to Jesus, the faithful One who will never forsake His people (2 Timothy 2:8-13; Hebrews 13:5). • Savannah Coleman • Besides Jeremiah, the Bible features many people who pour out their hearts before God to confess and repent of their sins, lament over the brokenness sin causes, and then praise the faithfulness and love of the Lord (see, for example, Psalm 51). Get out a piece of paper and try writing your own lament leading to praise. Reflect on how Jesus is near us, even in our brokenness (Matthew 28:20). Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-23 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Job 40:1-2; 2 Samuel 18:33-19:4; John 11:14-36