December 3 - Lamentations 3:21-23

December 3, 2025
December 3 - Lamentations 3:21-23

Sometimes we enter the Advent season not with joy and peace, but with despair and grief. When Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations, he was witnessing the destruction of the city and the people that he loved. In Lamentations 3:1-18, he gives vivid details of the pain and turmoil that he personally has experienced. And it feels like God has turned against him. Have you ever felt like this? 

And yet despite his circumstances, Jeremiah found hope in the character of God. He knew that God was in control and would be faithful to His word. Jeremiah pressed into God in the midst of his despair. In verses 19-20, he says “I remember my affliction and it’s bitter beyond words. I remember it well and my soul is downcast within me.”

But then he reminds himself of the truth: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 21-23). 

It is so important to press into God’s Word and God’s family during times of deep grief and suffering, not pull away. We need brothers and sisters to come alongside us, grieve with us, and then remind us of the truth of who God is: He is sovereign, He is merciful, and He is faithful. Therefore we have hope.

Merry Christmas, everyone. This week at Northland Church, we're talking about hope. But if we're honest, sometimes we don't come into the advent season with hope and joy and peace. We come into it with despair and grief. And in times like that, it can feel like God has turned away from us. When the prophet Jeremiah wrote the book of lamentations, he was witnessing the destruction of the city and the people that he loved. In lamentations 3, he gives vivid detail of the pain and the turmoil that he personally has experienced. And yet despite his circumstances, Jeremiah found hope in the character of God. He turned towards God in the midst of his despair. In chapter 3, starting in verse 19. He says, I remember my affliction, and it is bitter beyond words. I remember it well, and my soul is downcast within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. Our gut reaction in times of suffering is to pull away into doubt. But Jeremiah shows us. It is so important to press into God's word and into God's family during times of grief and suffering. We need brothers and sisters to come alongside us and grieve with us, and then gently remind us of the truth of who God is. He is sovereign, he is merciful, and he is faithful. And that is why we have hope, regardless of our circumstances.