So I was sitting in the office at church the other day getting ready for the weekend. I was putting together Scriptures that I would like to include on the side screens during the services and I started thinking about the verse that says,

"His mercies are new every morning…great is His faithfulness."

While I've heard that verse quoted a million times, I couldn't remember the reference. So I went into the office of one of the other worship leaders and asked him if he knew where it was. He didn't either, so we both started hunting around, and I went online to look it up. I was surprised to find that it is in the book of Lamentations.

Lamentations? It's with laments? Weird.

So I started reading the context that it was written in and I was shocked. Somehow every other time I had heard or read this text, I had missed everything that proceeded it. Here's what I found…

The author begins this chapter by saying:
"I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the Lord's anger. He has led me into darkness, shutting out all light. He has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. He has made my skin and flesh grow old. He has broken my bones. He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress. He has buried me in a dark place, like those long dead…"(Lamentations 3:1-6 NLT)

Doesn't sound like he's real happy, huh?

He later says:
"He has hidden like a bear or a lion, waiting to attack me. He has dragged me off the path and torn me in pieces, leaving me helpless and devastated. He has drawn his bow and made me the target for his arrows…He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, 'My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!'"

Man, we've all felt like this. But how many of us have the guts to actually say this? And be this honest with God?
Hang on here…there's more he has to say…

"The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
'The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!'"

Wow. Now that's inspiring. He just got done venting about how horrible his life is…and how he isn't very happy with God right now (to put it lightly), and he says I STILL DARE TO HOPE.

When was the last time that you dared to hope? That you trusted that the faithfulness of God outweighed the darkness and sorrow of your life?

AND…when was the last time that you honestly came before God and poured your heart out to Him? That you told Him how you really felt…not just how you WANT to feel…or what you feel like you SHOULD say to Him?

I think that the book of Lamentations is a beautiful example of honesty and worship. In our modern day, its not very common to hear people singing laments. We tend to just sing about joy…but that's not reality all the time. There's a time to mourn.

Christ's strength is made perfect in our weakness. So let us bring all that we are to Him and DARE TO HOPE that His mercies are new every morning.