Encouragement for Today
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December 11, 2024 Don’t Forget To Remember God’s Faithfulness |
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope …” Lamentations 3:21 (NIV)
In moments of disbelief and grief, words can escape us.
Speechless, I listened to my friend Kayla’s marital disappointment and deep hurt that made her feel unloved. Before she exited my car, I told her to call if she wanted to talk further.
When the phone rang at 3 a.m., I was barely responsive, but my distressed friend spoke through tears, “Jackie, I can barely breathe.”
I could hear the air of Kayla’s hope float away as she explained her heartache, devoid of oxygen and optimism. She had cried all night, but the morning arrived without change. Her 12-year marriage would end in divorce that day.
In that moment, I cried and grieved with my brokenhearted friend. Later, God impressed upon my heart six words of hope to share at the right time: “Don’t forget to remember God’s faithfulness.”
Heartbreak can break us and make us forget God's faithfulness. But recalling His goodness can help us see what He's doing right now — even in our deepest sorrow.
Lamentations 3:19-22 also expresses this idea, as the poet, deeply hurt by Jerusalem’s affliction, shifted his perspective and found hope despite his grief:
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall … 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” (NIV).
Why did the poet have hope? Because he chose to remember the character of God. He made a profound statement about God’s unfailing love — while wrestling with real grief.
We can deeply grieve and still be fully confident in God's faithfulness.
In our darkest moments, we can train our thoughts to remember the valleys God has already brought us through and remind our weary souls that we have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13), which activates hope.
God gathers our tears (Psalm 56:8), and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). These truths demonstrate the Lord’s constant care in our lives.
Think of times when you were in need, and somehow provision came.
Remember the friendships that have lifted you up when you've felt alone.
Recall the moments of peace that have washed over you during turbulent times.
These aren’t coincidences; these are reminders of God's unwavering faithfulness.
With every breath we take, we can recall the steadfast love of the Lord that never runs dry, even when our optimism diminishes. This doesn’t mean we deny ourselves opportunities to process heartache, but it does mean we can be more intentional about what we focus on during life’s painful moments.
So let’s hold tight to the memory of the good, process the bad, and remember God’s faithfulness that will always reach us — and beyond us.
Dear God, thank You for being faithful time and time again. May I always remember Your love that remains in times of grief and times of gladness. Great is Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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ENGAGE:
For more encouragement, you can connect with Jackie Smith-Bell on her Instagram or check out her 3-day Bible plan on YouVersion, “Abiding Hope: Standing in Faith When Life Is Crumbling.”
FOR DEEPER STUDY:
Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (ESV).
Experiencing the pain of grief is inevitable on this side of eternity. But as believers in Christ, we do not grieve without hope. How can having an eternal perspective help you navigate life amid earthly suffering?
We’d also love to hear your thoughts — share them in the comments!
© 2024 by Jackie Smith-Bell. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org