Day 5 Advent Devotional | December 8th
Lamentations 3:22-24
“The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
D.L. Moody once recalled a moment when he visited a friend. They were outside talking at the gate of the friend’s garden when two boys came up to them. Moody’s friend said, “Watch the difference in these two boys.” Moody’s friend put the boys on top of the gatepost and held out his arms, encouraging them to jump to him. The first boy jumped with no hesitation and was caught in his arms. The second boy hesitated and wouldn’t budge. The difference was the first boy was the son of Moody’s friend, and the other was a neighborhood boy who didn’t trust in the strength of Moody’s friend (D.L. Moody 1898, 63).
In Lamentations, Jeremiah reminds us about the hopelessness God’s people felt after the destruction of Jerusalem. In that situation, there were two kinds of people: those who trusted in the faithfulness, compassion, and hope of the Father, and those who did not. Which kind of person are you in desperate times?
For some people, the Christmas season is a difficult time. Maybe it is a lonely time, a reminder of those we have lost. For others, maybe it is overwhelming because of strained relationships. Whatever the situation, we can have hope in the never-failing love, compassion, and faithfulness that only God can provide. We can trust in His mercies that are new every morning.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to trust in you daily. I need your compassion and understanding. Your Word tells me that you are trustworthy and faithful. I want you to be my portion today and every day. Amen.