April 13, 2008
Remember
Lamentations 3:19 - 23

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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.

Many times when I have difficult things happen in my life, I want it all to just go away. How many times have I said, “I just want to forget this ever happened” when something bad has happened to me. The Bible gives me a different approach though. It says that I NEED to remember the difficult times. Why would I be instructed to do that when some memories and situations are so extremely painful? The reason can be summed up in one word: Hope. When God has taken me through a painful situation and I see myself on the other side, I have hope. Hope that I can make it through the next time. Hope that I am stronger and more equipped to face the next battle. Hope that even though I may have lost a battle, I have not lost the war. Hope is a beautiful thing because it is contagious and it grows. We can share our hope with one another to make each other stronger. That is a big part of the Christian life; helping someone when times are rough and they may not be feeling so hopeful. What a wonderful promise we have to lean on when our “hope” tank is empty. God’s compassions never fail and are new every single morning. His tank is never empty! I have a heavenly Father that loves me unconditionally and provides me with all the hope I will ever need.

Amy Goins