A Weeping World

Read: Lamentations 3:1-9, 24

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!" --- Lamentations 3:24

The Bible In One Year:
Jeremiah 50-52

A mother was told that her son had been killed in an accident on the job. In that moment, her life was flooded with tears. In another family, a sudden heart attack snatched away a husband, leaving a wife to face life alone. More tears! We live in a weeping world.

The book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, who is called the weeping prophet. The citizens of Judah had been taken into captivity [1:3]; Jerusalem lay in ruins [2:8-9]; the people were destitute [2:11-12]; their suffering was horrible beyond belief [2:20]; and the prophet wept continually [3:48-49]. Yet Jeremiah still affirmed the mercies, the compassions, and the faithfulness of God. From deep within him, his soul was saying, "The LORD is my portion, therefore I hope in Him!" [3:24].

What realism in those tear-saturated words! It's the reality that weeping and lamentations do not necessarily reflect a weak faith or a lack of trust in God. Some of us may think that a Christian must feel joyful even when the heart is breaking --- or at least try to appear that way. But Jeremiah's experience refutes that. Tears are a natural part of a Christian's life. But thank God, one day in Glory our blessed Savior will wipe them all away [Revelation 21:4]. --- Dennis De Haan

Christian, when your way seems darkest,
When your eyes with tears are dim,
Go to God your Father quickly,
Tell your troubles all to Him. --- Anon.

THE SOUL WOULD HAVE NO RAINBOW IF THE EYES HAD NO TEARS.