When It Feels Like Hope and Strength Are Gone
Jeremiah pours out his anguish. The way is dark and he is weighed down by chains. He has no peace. Desperate and alone, he cries out to God. God is silent. Is God shutting him out? (Lamentations 3)
“My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord,” he cries out in verse 18. His strength has died within him. All that he had hoped for from God is gone! Do you ever have that ‘sinking feeling’ in the depths of your soul?
But then Jeremiah remembers that through God’s never-ending mercies, we are not consumed. Even when our spirits sink, God’s inexhaustible compassion never does. Even when we ‘feel’ God is against us and is shutting us out, God’s love for us never changes or wanes. His faithfulness will always remain and His mercy and compassion are new every morning.
“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.”
Lamentations 3:21-23 NKJV
Sometimes a depressive spirit can smother us and choke off hope and inspiration to continue on one step at a time. We may even ‘feel’ God has abandoned us and left us to flounder on our own like a fish out of water. It’s okay to pour out those anxieties and deepest feelings to God. Sometimes it clears the way to what we still know deep in our hearts. That God is still God. Faithful and true. That His love will never fail and His mercy and grace will never end.
Lord, You know our every need
You know the deepest parts of our souls
Our deepest anxieties
Our greatest fears
Our yawning places of desire for You
To calm our trembling hearts
To fill us with Your Presence
Of unfailing love
And bottomless grace
To bring peace to this world
Of hate and injustice
Lord, sometimes when we focus on the
Jumbled up messes that don’t make sense
We forget You are still well in control
And You are still working to turn the ashes
Into a beautiful picture of love for us
Help us, Lord, to trust You with all our hearts
Help us to snuggle contentedly in Your embrace
In Your wise and loving will and way
Even when it looks or feels shaky and chaotic
Within our hearts and around us in this world
Please guide us in this year ahead
Send out Your light and truth
To lead us into Your way
Where hope in You is unshakable
Where Your faithful love never runs out
Where Your mercy and compassion never dry up
In Jesus’ Name We Pray
AMEN!
“There are times when we cannot cry at all,
and then He cries in us.
There are seasons when doubts and fears abound,
and so suffocate us with their fumes
that we cannot even raise a cry,
and then the indwelling Spirit
represents us, and speaks for us,
and makes intercession for us, crying in our name.”
~ Charles Spurgeon ~
The King of the World
“When did I forget that you’ve always been the King of the world?
I try to take life back right out of the hands of the King of the world
How could I make You so small
When You’re the One who holds it all
When did I forget that You’ve always been the King of the world?”
Nature Retreat
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” ~ George Washington Carver
We get older, and times change, don’t they? I’m not as able to get out into nature like I used to, so it’s always fun to look back on the precious memories. Here are a few outing/vacation photos from over 12 years ago. Where have the years gone?!
Freed to Fly 
Oh Trudy, I certainly understand about the gift that old photos can be to remind us of the times in nature that we once had! I’m so sorry you can’t get out like you used to. But I’m so thankful that we can pray for each other from within those common grounds. The quote by Spurgeon was so encouraging. It brought tears to my eyes to think about the gift that intercession truly is. Our Lord intercedes for us, and then He calls us to join Him in that intercession for others. I pray God’s blessings upon you for this New Year my dear friend.
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I’m thankful, too, that we can pray for each other, Bettie. I just about deleted that part, because I worry that I was complaining. Now through you, God has shown me the purpose of sharing it. I often forget that every part of our stories matter to God, even if we know others have it worse. Lately I’ve been realizing it’s okay and even necessary to grieve over what we can’t do as easily anymore. It will better help us to be content in God’s now for us, right? Spurgeon’s quote really touched my heart, too. May we rest in our loving and gracious Intercessor who knows all our hearts and the secrets within!
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Lovely, Trudy. All of it. And I especially appreciated your praying words. May God lead our way this year, and always!
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Thank you, Lynn. I’m so grateful it spoke to your heart. Yes! May God lead our way this year, and always! May He help us to hold His hand even when we don’t understand!
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When we are down and despondent because of life’s whims, may we turn to God who is always and ever present and faithful to see us through. As always, Trudy, your posts are comforting and inspiring. God bless you and yours in the New Year!
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I’m so glad this comforted and inspired you, Martha. “May we turn to God who is always and ever present and faithful to see us through.” Amen! We could never do without Him! God bless you and yours, too!
P.S. I’m glad you still tested negative for Covid and that Danny has now, too. May God strengthen you both!
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Dear Trudy, a blessed new year to you. Thank you for sharing Lamentations 3 … it has been a favorite Scripture for years, seeing me through the hardest times, giving me stability and hope … and Jesus’ presence.
Bless you, girl, as we head into an unknown year. I know you rejoice with me that our loving Father already knows everything … and that He’ll carry us through.
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That verse has so often given me hope and stability as well, Linda. It’s such a precious truth to lead us through those hard times. 💕 Yes, I do rejoice with you that our loving Father already knows everything and that He’ll carry us through! May God give you a blessed new year, too!
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I love the photos, Trudy, and what a beautiful prayer! It is always so comforting to remember God’s faithfulness and that his mercies are new every morning.
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Thank you, Lesley. Yes, God’s faithfulness and day by day mercies are so comforting. May we hold fast to this truth!
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Beautiful and comforting words! I can relate to the changes life brings that prevent us from doing things we used to enjoy. But how good of God to give us sweet memories (and photos) so we can recall and praise Him all over again.
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I’m grateful you were comforted, Donna. I’m sorry life changes prevent you from doing things you enjoy. May we call to mind those sweet memories to lighten the load!
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Life does have a way of presenting us with opportunities to use our hope and strength. May we each have all we need in abundance in 2025! I love your animal photos, Trudy. They bring me such joy at their uniqueness and beauty. Hope you’re doing well, friend!
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Thank you, Lisa. Yes, “may we each have all we need in abundance in 2025!” It brings me joy, too, to see how uniquely and beautifully God created His creatures. 😊 He equips them with all they need and it gives hope that He will do the same for us, right?
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Such a beautiful post, Trudy. May God bless you and keep you in this new year, bringing brighter days your way. Thank you for your faithful encouragement.
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I’m grateful you were encouraged, Cheryl. Thank you for your beautiful prayer – “May God bless you and keep you in this new year, bringing brighter days your way.” I pray the same for you!
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Praying with you today. So beautifully spoken Trudy. I am encouraged by your words today. And I love that song. What a great nature retreat.
Thank you so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.
xo
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Thank you for praying with me today, Paula. I’m glad you were encouraged here. May we keep calling to mind that God rules over all and His mercies never end!
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Beautiful thoughts AND photos, Trudy! I love how you emphasize that while our feelings change, God remains steadfast and faithful. Love and hugs to you, dear friend!
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Thank you, Lois. It’s such a comfort that God remains steadfast and faithful, isn’t it? Love and hugs to you, too! May God’s steadfast strength and faithful love lead us always!
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