WFTD: Hope: Why can you have hope in the middle of tears?

22The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23[They] are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him.  Lamentations 3:22-24

EXPOSITION: Our recent news headlines are a chronicle of tears:  A political activist is assassinated. A thirteen-year-old’s plot to conduct a mass shooting is thwarted. A man claiming to hear voices stabs to death a woman on a bus. It’s hard to find hope in the middle of these lamentations but you can have hope. Jeremiah—the “Weeping Prophet”—found hope in these three verses in the Book of Lamentations based on four words: hesed, racham, chadash, and emunah.

1. First, God’s hope is based in God’s forever lovingkindness –hesed—that is eternal.

2.  Second, God’s hope is based on God’s effective, tender mercy—racham—that can be trusted to work according to His purpose.

3. Third, God’s hope is based on availability and appropriateness whatever the day brings; it’s new—chadash—every day.

4.  Finally, God’s hope is certain because He is faithful—emunah.

BACKSTORY: In Jeremiah’s time, God’s people are in tears for many reasons. They are in Babylonian exile, their king is blind, their princes are slain, their disloyal remnant is depleted. Their prophet is reduced to cries of deserved despair. Yet in the middle of this darkness, there is a glint of hope. Literally, 3:22-24 falls in the middle the Book of Lamentations, dividing deep, dim futility and a bright, possible hope.

ILLUSTRATION: Here is what hope in the middle of a mess looks like according to this quora.com contribution. Click on the photo for link.

“That’s more than just wiping a chin.” It’s kindness within minutes of meeting a child. Every year, a week before their first football game, Iowa State hosts Victory Day. It’s a special day for kids with special needs to spend time with the team, go into the locker room, and play on the field. They get to wear helmets, run out of the tunnel, and score a touchdown.

But the big football players, who are focused on their season, might love it more. This picture proves it. Mandy Cosper shared this story with me: Hi! I saw you at ISU Victory Day and wanted to send you a picture of my son with football player Funto Akinshilo. Colt has a neurological disorder that makes him drool a lot. I was about to take a picture of them together when Funto stopped me. He noticed Colt had drool on his chin, so he wiped it away first.  It was one of the sweetest moments I’ve ever seen.’ Kindness like this is what really makes a difference.”

APPLICATION: Never give up hope. Hope is possible because of God’s loving kindness, tender mercy, renewable grace and immutable faithfulness in the middle of a mess. You have responsibility in this possible hope. Turn down the heat in your speech. Think before you speak. Then speak less than you think.  Ask yourself of your words: Is it true? Is it fair? Does it contribute to a solution? Does it build community or division? And when you speak, speak words that promote these four words: hesed, racham, chadash, and emunah. Lead by example. Don’t just speak with your mouth, wipe someone’s chin with your kind hands.