I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I will remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumer, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:19-24
Not long ago, my husband and I regifted an item. The item was a box of Legos that had been residing in the back shed for quite some time. The recipient of the gift was our youngest son, who was turning 2. The gift itself was not new, yet it was certainly new to him. He was excited and ready to explore his new birthday gift. He had great anticipation as if this was a brand new toy.
We can look at God’s mercy and compassion in the same way. We fail, we falter, we fall short of obeying God’s commands for us. Sometimes our days are filled with despair and depression. Stress, illness, the pressures of life and our sins plague us. But God took all those burdens and placed them on his Son, who willingly took them to the cross. He bore those burdens so we didn’t have to.
When we turn to God’s Word, we see he understands and helps us. Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. God’s gifts for us are not any different than they were for his people centuries ago. Yet they are new, new because he regifts them to us each and every day. We then feel free, feeling those burdens lifted off us. For that and all his blessings we are joyful. Therefore, we begin each day as a new day of God’s mercy and love for us!
Ask the Lord
God, our Father, each day is a gift of your grace. Your mercies are new every morning. Guide our steps by the light of your Word. Shield us from harm and keep us from evil. Better than life is your love. Put joy in our hearts and praise on our lips! Amen.
Paula Sulzle
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