From Winter to Spring

Photo by Shaun Holloway on Unsplash

Something about the first day of March gave me this sense of a fresh start. I was reminded that Spring is on its way. Since I was a child, I've loved the springtime because the beauty of Creation reminds me of God's faithfulness and goodness. Spring reminds me of new beginnings because, throughout the winter, life stands still. There can be almost this sense of hopelessness when the days literally grow darker. Yet, God's mercies are new every morning...and every season. Oh, how faithful is my God!

When I think about new beginnings, there's this verse that always comes to mind:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:23-24)

I memorized this verse when I was young, and it's always instilled hope in my spirit whenever I faced affliction. I knew that no matter what sorrow I faced, God would restore my joy in Him. (See Psalm 30:1-5.) What I didn't know until now was that this verse that proclaims the daily mercies of God is found in Lamentations. This caught my attention because the book of Lamentations is a book of lament, or deep sorrow, chronicling Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem. Friends, the destruction that Israel faced during this time was harrowing.

There was a sense of hopelessness among the people: "She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks..." (Lamentations 1:2)

Their reputation was tarnished: "All who honored her despise her..." (Lamentations 1:8)

There was famine: "All her people groan as they search for bread..." (Lamentations 1:11)

They could find no comfort: "Zion stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her..." (Lamentations 1:17)

In response to this, the author says that his endurance and hope in the Lord have been sucked dry. He is lamenting. He is without hope. If you have felt without hope, friends, mirror the actions of this Israelite and call to mind the steadfast love of our God, whose mercies never cease. Friends, this needs repeating: His mercy never runs out. His fountain of mercy is replenished daily. There is more mercy in Jesus than you ever could imagine. There is mercy enough for you.