Reliance on God's faithfulness in difficult times

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

The faithful love of the Lord never ends.  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

These verses are one of the Navigator’s Topical Memory System verses that should be memorized.  No question that these verses leave the readers with great hope that God’s promises are true.  To gain better appreciation of the power of these verses, you need to read all the verses in this book leading up to these two.  This book was written by Jeremiah very shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC.  The city lies in ruins and desolation (1:1-11), survivors are in great pain and sorrow (1:12-19), yet all this pain and sorrow was a result of God’s judgment upon their continued rebellion (1:20-2:22).  Note in the first verses of Chapter 3 how God’s wrath was manifested using terms like darkness, broken bones, bitterness, unanswered prayers, deep wounds, being mocked, broken teeth, rejection, and forgotten happiness. 

Yet, all of a sudden, starting in Lam 3:19, Jeremiah starts writing more positively, starting with a prayer asking God to remember his affliction and wanderings, and recalling God’s mercy that produces hope.  From focus on himself to focus on God, Jeremiah then writes about God’s faithfulness and mercies.  Unless you have lost everything, face exile, and uncertain whether you will survive a hostile takeover of your country, you cannot be in the same situation as Jeremiah and those still living when he wrote these words.  So, if these words can be written and believed in under all those circumstances, you most certainly today can claim these promises and rely on God’s faithfulness and mercies (lovingkindnesses) in whatever circumstances you are facing right now.

One of the most well-known Christian hymns is “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”.  It was written by Thomas Chisolm in 1923 after he had been very sick and unable to work, yet found great comfort in the words of Lam 3:22-23.  One of his good friends, William Runyan, composed the musical score that accompanies the lyrics.  The song became well-known and very popular after George Beverly Shea began to sing it during the Billy Graham crusades starting in 1945.  Since then this hymn has been sung and recorded by countless Christian singers.  “Listen” to the words and may they give you special hope and inspiration during your times of great need and difficulties.  

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

(Refrain) Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.  Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!  Refrain