Lamentations 3:19-27 
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, 
the bitterness and the gall. 
I well 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 consumed, 
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.” 
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, 
to the one who seeks him; 
it is good to wait quietly 
for the salvation of the LORD. 
It is good for a man to bear the yoke 
while he is young.” (NIV)

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Some of the sweetest fruit grows in the hardest soil. 

When you see Lamentations 3:22-23 stitched neatly and artistically and hung on a wall, you know someone near has experienced the difficult challenges of life. Not only have they known hard times, but they’ve also discovered God’s gentleness and kindness. 

Hard times come to all of us. Some of those hard times are harder than hard. It is in those times when we stay deeply connected with our Father in Heaven that we discover His compassion and His faithfulness are bigger, broader, and better than any difficulty we will ever face. 

The last three words of verse 21 above provide the perfect lead-in to these words we so deeply treasure. They say, ‘I have hope.'” Hope in hard times leads us to a posture of waiting. Verse 24 emphasizes this. Verse 25 reminds us that those who wait on God experience His goodness. Verse 26 reminds us that waiting does not require wailing. 

The first rays of morning are dawning around me as I write these words. My running shoes, which are walking shoes these days, await my feet. I’m ready for my stroll before it gets so hot that I don’t want to go outside. 

Yesterday’s troubles may still linger in my mind, but God’s compassion and faithfulness are doing something new and fresh in my life. He provides perspective and hope for this day and every day to come. 

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I will live a life of earnest expectation of God’s compassion and faithfulness. 

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Our Father, thank you for hope in the hardest of times. Thank you for the sweetest of fruit that only grows in the dark nights of our souls. Thank you for the refreshment you bring us each morning, which lingers throughout the day and empowers us to rest at night. You really are better to us than we would be to ourselves. Amen.