The Lodestar

"Do not judge a book by its cover," goes the saying. A dull, boring book could have a brilliant cover, and an exciting book may have an uninviting one.

Many Bible readers skip the Book of Lamentations, thinking it has nothing comforting but gloomy and sad. However, though it describes loss and destruction, it is a book of hope and trust in God.

Among many stanzas in this book, two stand out as they brim with hope in God (3:19-21; 22-24). The first is adamant hope, unwilling to give in under the weight of the stark reality of pain. "Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me" (Lam 3:19--20).

Though painful thoughts take up this godly person's memory, it still has space for the invigorating faith in the Lord's mercy. So, he declares, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam 3:22-23).

This is not dreaming but faith in the reality of the Lord. In the abyss of pain, this person considers the Lord his "portion." A portion is what a person gets as a generous gift from a kind person. The Lord of Mercy is not a spectator in his suffering, not an advisor in managing adversity or damage control, but the one who has come into his life as the rightful inheritance. The Lord is actively engaged in the situation, arousing hope where there is no room for hope: "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him" (Lam 3:24).

The Book of Lamentation is not dispiriting, but rather it encourages Christ's followers to process grief with unwavering hope in the Lord.

Journal Your Pain and Your Hope. Write down what’s weighing on your heart—and then write a declaration of hope, just as the writer of Lamentations did.