Lamentations 3:22-26

Dear Friends,
I trust that you are finding the Lord Faithful, because He is, and that you are trusting in His faithfulness.
As I looked at Lamentations 3:22-26 today I thought about how for the last ten years, since 1997 when I got bit by a tick carrying Lyme disease, Chuck and I have been in a desert. My illness has taken its toll in so many ways. But, during this time of dry, desert wandering, the Lord has been faithful to walk with us, showing us Him in new and wonderful ways.
After you read the verses, come and join me.......Have you ever felt consumed by something? Maybe it's a situation with your family. I think of LeaAnn and her family with Anna's illness. I'm sure there are times is consumes time, attention and emotions.
The first verse tells us that because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed. I think it means emotionally more than anything else. Our emotions can swamp us so quickly and take away our ability to even think positively. But the rest of the verse also tells us that His compassions never fail. Even when life seems to be failing us, He does not.
In verse 25 He tells us that He is good to us when we hope in Him. Do you hope in Him? In what ways do you hope? That He'll help your illness to go away? I'm sure Betty would like that. Or, that your children would follow God and bypass all the terrible things that can trap youth? You don't want them to be scared by memories in later in life.
Verse 26 says that it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. When I think about these last ten years and how I would like to be delivered from my illnesses, I wonder if I've waited quietly? Probably not. I don't like being sick, but I know that the Lord has taught me so many things through it all. Chuck too has learned many things that we then can use to help others. So, is suffering good? No, but it produces good things.
Someday none of us will hurt, or have emotional pain, then we will have collected our salvation from the Lord. Because His mercies are new each morning (23), take each day, one at a time, and wait on Him (24).

Waiting,
Sandy