The Super-Abundant Faithfulness of God

We must remember where Lamentations 3:22-24 comes from…so we don’t get it wrong and waste an opportunity to see a glimpse of glory in the midst of real life. This is not sitting on a beach reading a magazine on vacation saying ‘God you are so faithful’. This is not, when everything works out as we had planned saying God is so faithful. It is not wrong to do so, it is right to acknowledge God in everything, but that is not what Lam. 3 is about. It is so easy to air lift it out, airbrush it, Photoshop it into comfy surroundings, Thanksgiving feasts where we have to unbutton our top button to allow more food in. No, this is saying to God... when you are in excruciating pain, and you don’t know how you will make it, and you have to force yourself to say the words because your circumstances have numbed you to the feelings we often rely on, when you know you have failed and sinned grievously, and all you deserve is wrath but God has held that back from you …God you are faithful, Your mercy is what is keeping me standing, your faithfulness is what is holding me up. And I know it would be far worse, and I deserve far worse, if not for Your mercy which you apply in faithfulness. This is saying even if there is still nothing, I have hope because of Who God is. Even if things stay as bad as they seem, I will praise You in the storm. Because You are Faithful and there is so much of Your faithfulness to go around. An infinite supply for infinite needs. This is saying to God with whatever ounce of energy you have left, when you are at the end of your rope, all I have is Christ. Let’s just remember what this is. Apply it then and you will apply it in every situation.

It is so easy to focus on what God has given us, forgetting what He has not given. Our perspective on praise & thankfulness can change if we see it more like one writer put it...viewing life's blessings as water in a cup, we can discontentedly focus on the ½ of the cup that seems empty; or gratefully focus on the ½ that is full. We know which is the better of the 2, but Lam. 3:22-24 should stir in us a richer gratitude than this. It reminds us 1st that what we actually deserve from God is a full cup of His wrath. If we were given what we deserve each day. So to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were even the tiniest drop of blessing, we’d be blown away by God’s unbelievable kindness to us. The fact that God has given believers a cup full of every spiritual blessing in Christ, with no wrath, ought to bring us to our knees. We should see all our earthly circumstances as amazing improvements on the hell we deserve. So, be grateful 1st you are not getting the wrath you deserve, & grateful 2nd for the gifts & blessings given instead of wrath.
Soli Deo Gloria