“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

I’m in the middle of a Bible study on the Book of Job, and one of the study questions this week was, “When has an encounter with nature helped you catch a picture or glimpse of God’s greatness?” (Bonus thought: This question related to chapter 26 when Job describes the power and majesty of God. Verses 7 and 10 describe scientifically accurate statements that were not part of the scientific vernacular of ancient times. How cool is that?)

I immediately thought of sunrises. I love sunrises – the vibrant colors, each one different than the sunrise the day before, signs of God’s attention to beauty and detail.

Then I realized I couldn’t remember that last time I saw a sunrise. Not because I’m asleep, but because it’s been rainy and cloudy for days (this is when I start singing Karen Carpenter’s “Rainy Days and Mondays”). I used to see them on the way to my former job or during an early morning run, and I loved starting my day that way.

Fast forward a few days, and I’m driving home after a 6:00 kickboxing class. It was dark when class started, but as I drove around the building heading home, the sky was filled with colors. A sunrise! After making sure I didn’t pause in the middle of the intersection (although there wasn’t too much traffic at 6:45 in the morning), I marveled at the colors I hadn’t seen for too many days. 

And Lamentations 3:22-23 popped into my head. Because I associate the text “they are new every morning” with sunrises.

As I drove home through a swampy area, branchless tree trunks stood tall, trying to obscure my view. But they couldn’t, because the colors could be seen through the trees.

In Lamentations chapter 3, the speaker knows what it is to suffer. And yet, this is what he says in verse 21:

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope”

• But – Despite what is happening to me and going on around me, another truth exists.

• This – the words of verses 22-23

• Call to mind – Seek hope, actively think about God’s faithfulness

• Therefore – Because of God’s faithfulness, we have hope

Just as the following verse (24) says: “‘The LORD is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Pause for a moment and rest in that, and live in the goodness of God.

How are you seeing God “through the trees”?

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV