The Lord’s Mercies

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) says,

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Tonight as I sit to write, my heart is grateful for this truth. Our Creator is merciful. His mercies never come to an end. If Scripture is to be believed–and I for one am banking my eternity on the truth of Scripture–were it not for the Lord’s mercies, we would be consumed.

Life On Earth

Last week I made a trip to the South Georgia coast for a two-day retreat. The time had been loosely planned as an opportunity for some of us to enjoy friendships in a place from our past. None of us expected the deep joy God had in store for us. It was a time we all needed, a time of refreshment for our souls.

The morning after I returned home, I heard of the death of a young man, husband to one of my former students. My heart ached for her loss. And for her son whom I also taught.

The next morning, I received a text telling me a long-time family friend had passed the night before. It did not escape me that God was merciful when He refreshed my soul days earlier, preparing me for the hurt to come.

These two losses in my personal world came after the news of the death of a well-known actor for whom many people in our country were grieving. And these losses all came in the middle of a war being waged in the Middle East, a war that seems prepared to affect the entire globe.

Where Is God?

How can we keep our hearts strong when so much hurt and loss, war and evil, seem to cover our world? People ask, “Where is God?!” “If a good God exists, why doesn’t He do something about the horrible things we see and experience on this planet?”

I suggest there is a good God, and He has already done something about the evil we see and the sadness we experience.

Approximately 2000 years ago, God Himself came to walk among us. His given name was Yeshua, Jesus, Immanuel, God With Us. In His utter perfection, He accepted all the cruelty the evil one could throw at Him. Then Jesus willingly paid for each of us the price we would have to pay otherwise. He died a horrible physical death and was separated from God the Father for the only time in eternity. Jesus took our penalty on Himself, the penalty we deserved because our hearts want to do things our way instead of God’s way. And in return, Jesus offered us His righteous standing with the Father so we can spend forever with this good God instead of with the evil one who hates all that is good.

Except for the Lord’s mercies, we would be consumed. But because of His great compassion, He has provided a way for us to break free from the darkness that would otherwise undo us.

God’s Compassions Never Fail

Life on earth is hard. But it is covered with the mercies of God. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, KJV). Our hope for the future is in the provision He has already made for us. And our strength in the here and now is in the joy and peace we have because of His compassionate love and faithfulness.

Until the Lord returns to set up His kingdom and removes the enemy of us all, there will be wars. There will be heartache and loss. But our Father walks with us in the middle of each and every hurt. He doesn’t leave us here alone. But He also won’t push Himself on any of us. Those who choose to ignore Him or side with the enemy lose out, now and forever, on the joy of fellowship with their Creator, the Author of joy, peace, hope, and love.

But for those who know Jesus, who trust Him as the way to the Father, who love Him and eagerly wait for His return, these people know the joy of Lamentations 3:22-23. There will be hard roads here on this earth, but they are temporary. Our eternity is sealed with the One Who loves so greatly He willingly gave His life for us. And while God still has us here on earth, He proves Himself over and over as One Who’s compassions do not fail. The Lord’s mercies never end. His faithfulness is forever.

Follow Up

When personal trials and losses come and when the chaos in the world threatens to overwhelm us, I pray we will rely on the truths God has given us in His word. He is with us. He will not forsake us. His mercies are new every morning. And His faithfulness is great.

In addition to reading His word, often music helps comfort and encourage. The Steadfast Love Of The Lord is based on Lamentations 3:22-23. If you listen to it, I hope you are blessed by the song as much as I have been. The Lord’s mercies, thankfully, never come to an end.

(To hear The Steadfast Love Of The Lord, click here.)

(Photo: Taken by Carolyn Thigpen, St. Simon's Island, GA, 2023)