new mercies

As I was considering where I've seen God this week, it's been in the first light of the morning as I've headed back to school (after last week's spring break).  I may hate getting up in the dark, but I LOVE driving to work at sunrise!  His handiwork, it's something ... and His goodness.

And, it's been in the evening as I see the sun sinking low over the horse pastures behind my house.  I never tire of that view.  Something soothing about that first light and last light of that day ... and it seems to bookend the rest of it ... the weariness, the excitement, the good moments, the tough moments, the conversations, the work, the smiles ...

"... 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.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Today, as my thoughts went back to these verses, I decided to reread them in their context.

I guess it's no surprise that the rest of the chapter Jeremiah is lamenting his woes ... and he actually seems to be attributing them to God! "I am the man ho has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord's wrath ..."  YIKES!!  And this listing of afflictions goes on for the next 20 verses.

Then, it turns with a YET.  I think YET and BUT are my favorite verses in the Bible because it means God's not done.

Basically, Jeremiah is saying, my whole life stinks, BUT, I remember this and so I will have hope.

I think we all need that reminder sometimes.  We are tired, BUT ...  We are discouraged, BUT ...  We don't know how this is going to get better, BUT ...

No matter what is happening to us, in us, around us, because of God's great love we are not consumed.  He compassions never fail.  His mercies are new EVERY morning.  Great is His faithfulness.

It's just like the manna ... He doesn't lavish all His compassion on us for a lifetime.  He doles it out one day's worth at a time.  That's really all we can handle anyway.  And when He portions out what we need for today, we will come back tomorrow for a new serving.  I guess there's a reason He's painted the sky for me ... because it's my YET moment.  I may be tired or overwhelmed or discouraged ... YET, He's reminding me that His mercies for me are new today.  GREAT is His faithfulness.