Arise, cry out in the night,
At the beginning of the watches;
Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.
Lift your hands toward Him
For the life of your young children,
Who faint from hunger at the head of every street. (Lam. 2:19)
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lam. 3:21-24)

For the Lord will not cast off forever.
Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies. (Lam. 3:31-32)

My devotions had me in Lamentations a few weeks ago. It is such an honest book: expressing heartfelt emotions, grieving personally and corporately, longing for something better, feeling oppressed, and enduring dark places. The portion in chapter three about God’s mercies and compassions being new every morning have been one of my favorite portions of Scripture for most of my life. But it wasn’t until this time of devotions that I noticed how we are called to ask for God’s help and comfort at any time of day or night (2:19). He wants us to pour out our hearts before Him. Then He reminds us of the hope we can have in the LORD’s mercies and compassions because they are new every morning, and He is a faithful God. (3:21-24). Even though He may allow or even cause grief in our lives, He shows compassion on us according to the incomprehensible number of His mercies (vv. 31-32); He will not leave us feeling cast aside forever. Could there be any more encouraging words than those when we feel like we are in the darkest pit man has ever encountered? Could there be any more precious promises than those when we question whether our prayers are getting past the ceilings of our rooms? Great is His faithfulness. Hope in Him. He will not cast you off forever. And His mercies are multitudinous and new every morning. Never give up hope in our great God.