God is Present Through Struggles and Suffering

As I was thinking over the past year and as we are beginning this new year, I was reminded about the presence of God in the midst of struggles and suffering. It is thought that the prophet Jeremiah was the writer of the book of Lamentations. Jeremiah was writing to express the struggles with suffering. Long lasting suffering. Not the suffering that can be quickly fixed, made right or over come. But the suffering that affects a person, a group, a nation for weeks, months and years.

How appropriate this is for today.

Suffering physically, emotionally and spiritually. Suffering with tears and with waiting. Here we are still in the same circumstances of waiting. Waiting for better news throughout the pandemic. Waiting for better news from our leaders. Waiting through the night.

How many of us truly greatly dislike the waiting!

Yet there is hope in this time of waiting. The Lord’s compassion, also called mercies, are new every morning.

Jeremiah is reminding us of this truth: “God is Faithfull. God is Present.”

God’s mercies are new every morning. This statement is expressing 3 different things for us to hold on to:

1.      God’s Covenant- You are my people

2.      God’s Commitment- I will never leave nor forsake you.

3.      God’s Communion-God’s love and constant desire to be in relationship with us.

We are His people, His followers, the Sheep of His flock. God is very present with us, bearing our burdens with us, not leaving nor forsaking us, not overcome by the suffering, not overwhelmed by fear and not overcome by the waiting. More than that, God is ever loving, showing patience, kindness, and perseverance. God’s love never fails.

Thus our hope remains in the Lord. May there be times to rest quietly in His presence to be renewed in our hearts and minds and souls by these reminders. It is good for us to take time to simply be with Him and renewed by His mercies.