The scripture for today, March 22, is Lamentations 3:22 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”
The name of this Old Testament book comes from the word “lament” or mourn. Jerusalem has just been destroyed and everyone except the poorest has been taken away to be slaves in another country ~ Babylon (today’s Iraq). Jeremiah, the prophet and author of
Lamentations, is allowed to stay with those left behind.
Jeremiah had spent years warning people of the coming destruction of their country due to their sinful life and taking advantage of each other. He endured taunts, reprimands, imprisonments and threats to his life. Now it has happened. All hope is gone. Nothing left but ashes.
It is at this point that Jeremiah utters bravely, “We are not consumed.”
Are there things going on your life that seem to be consuming you? Look up. God is still there. He still loves you.
When we have the love of God, we have the courage to take the next step and the next and the next. We have the courage to keep walking and to hold our head high. Nothing and nobody can ever take away the love God has for us. With his love, we can never be consumed.