I Say to Myself

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:22-24

When you read the scripture above it is hard to imagine the hell the author was referring to in the previous passages.

Lamentations 3:1-19

I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the Lord’s anger. He has led me into darkness, shutting out all light. He has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. He has made my skin and flesh grow old. He has broken my bones. He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress. He has buried me in a dark place, like those long dead. He has walled me in, and I cannot escape. He has bound me in heavy chains. And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers. He has blocked my way with a high stone wall; he has made my road crooked. He has hidden like a bear or a lion, waiting to attack me. He has dragged me off the path and torn me in pieces, leaving me helpless and devastated. He has drawn his bow and made me the target for his arrows. He shot his arrows deep into my heart. My own people laugh at me. All day long they sing their mocking songs. He has filled me with bitterness and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink. He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.

Wow, have any of you ever went through anything like that? It reminds me of the desert life. He has given up, lost hope on everything. But then he makes a profound statement:

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

What is he remembering? He is remembering that God is faithful and the faithful love of the Lord never fails. He also is remembering that everyday is a new day with the Lord. This morning His mercies are new and fresh.

Now I want you to notice something. In verse 24 he speaks to himself: I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” In these desert times you must encourage yourself in the Lord, David would speak to his soul and ask why are you cast down, rejoice in the Lord.

I truly believe you should never quite, never give up. Start speaking life to your situations. The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lift your hearts and hands to God in heaven and say, I will trust in you Lord and You will deliver me from the snare of the fowler. I say today that you will send streams into my desert; You will cause my desert place to flourish and be prosperous.

I will continually bless your name.

In Christ