New Every Morning
READ
Finding hope in the book of Lamentations is like discovering diamonds in a coal mine. Written by Jeremiah amid Jerusalem's destruction—with the temple in ruins, the city walls demolished, and many people killed or exiled—it captures raw grief in poetic form. The writer has watched his world collapse, yet in the middle of this devastation, he makes this extraordinary declaration of God's faithfulness.
Let’s take a moment to read Lamentations 3:22-23:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
REFLECT
Just before these verses, Jeremiah describes his soul being "downcast" within him, detailing his affliction, homelessness, and bitter suffering. Then comes this dramatic pivot: "Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope..." What follows is this beautiful affirmation of God's unfailing compassion and daily-renewed faithfulness.
This teaches us something profound about faithfulness. God's faithfulness isn't the absence of difficulties but His sustained presence through them. It's not the prevention of all suffering but the promise that suffering will not have the final word. It's not immunity from life's hardships but the assurance that we will not be "consumed" by them.
The image of God's mercies being "new every morning" connects to the ancient Israelites gathering fresh manna each day. Yesterday's provision might be gone, but today brings fresh supply. Similarly, God's compassion isn't a one-time deposit we must ration but a renewable resource that arrives precisely when needed.
In our achievement-oriented culture, we often believe faithfulness means never failing or falling short. But Biblical faithfulness is about commitment despite circumstances. God demonstrates this perfect faithfulness even when we don't. The Hebrew word for faithfulness (emunah) conveys firmness, steadiness, and reliability—like a rock that doesn't move regardless of what crashes against it.
Most remarkably, these words were written not from a place of comfort and blessing but from the epicenter of catastrophe. This wasn't an easy hallelujah offered when everything was going well, but a defiant declaration of trust when evidence seemed to suggest abandonment. Jeremiah's witness reminds us that God's faithfulness doesn't eliminate suffering but transcends it.
When we feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, this passage reassures us that God's loving compassion arrives new each morning, giving us exactly what we need for that day—no more, no less, but always sufficient.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
When have you experienced God's faithfulness during a particularly difficult season?
What does it mean to you personally that God's compassions are "new every morning"?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Faithful Father, thank You that Your compassions never fail and are renewed with each sunrise. When my circumstances tempt me to doubt Your goodness, anchor me in the truth that Your faithfulness transcends my understanding and experiences. Help me to find hope in Your steady presence even in my darkest moments. Amen.