I was reading Lamentations and ended up reading all five chapters because while the beginning of it was really bleak, I knew that hope would prevail at the end.

And it reminded me about what we are all facing in our world right now – this pandemic – which is the last thing that I want to talk about because we hear it every day, right? I won’t stay there though but the first verse did remind me of what we’re facing today.

Lamentations 1:1 “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!”

Here was a desolate city and here sat the prophet, all alone.

It’s feels a lot like that now in our present day, desolate and alone. If I can be just downright real with you, this season has been one with every emotion mixed in at once for me. Maybe you can relate.  Many thoughts. Many questions. But when the emotions storm through, I have to remind myself of the One who will be the calm in my storm and that’s my Father in Heaven.

The prophet definitely was feeling afflicted. He was walking in darkness. He felt as if God was far away. He was overwhelmed with bitterness and hardship. He felt like a laughingstock.

Maybe you can relate to how the prophet was feeling. Do you feel like God is not hearing your prayers? Or maybe you feel bitter over a circumstance you can’t seem to shake.

There is hope.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.

Lamentations 3:21

Call to mind . . . remember. Remember what the Father has done in your life.

I truly believe that He has done some mind-shifting, heart-lifting things in your life just as He has mine. So, whatever you are facing today, pandemic related or not, call to your mind the hope that He has promised you.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

We don’t have to be consumed by the world. We don’t have to be consumed by our emotions.  We don’t have to be consumed by anything other than the love of the Father.

Lamentations 3:24
“I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.”

I have read this verse many times but this time what caught my attention was “I say to myself.” In a time of desperation and feeling alone in a desolate city, the prophet reminded himself who His everything was.

Speak truth to yourself.  And speak kindly to yourself.

Say to yourself –

The LORD is my portion.
He is my healer.
He is my hope.
I am loved.
I am cherished.
I am not alone.