Hope affords us the opportunity to be human. We can be real about hardship, difficulties, grief, and suffering when we have hope.

Biblical hope anchors our hearts and minds in the goodness of God. Such hope is defined as a confident expectation about the future, a certain conviction that God will act according to His character and His promises.

Jeremiah is my mentor when the realities of living in a fallen world smack me upside the head. He pioneered a pathway to hope in the midst of great heartache.

The Israelites were reaping what they had sown. Their pursuit of idolatry brought the judgment of God upon them. Jerusalem was devastated. The prophet saw a gutted Temple and walls torn down. God’s people were in Babylon and it was not for sightseeing.

Jeremiah was not okay. He was traumatized. He was honest about his feelings as he sought comfort in God’s grace. The Lord led him back to the truth of God’s character and hope emerged.

Someone has said, “Hope is the melody of the future; Faith is the courage to dance to it today.” Jeremiah could have written those words. Where did he find the melody of the future? How did he have the courage to dance to it in the midst of his grief and despair?

Jeremiah listened to the melody of Scripture. He danced to the character of God. He journaled the pathway from despair to delight through these eternal words of truth. Can we look at them together?

“This I recall to my mind. Therefore I have hope.”
Lamentations 3:21

Note that hope arose as he focused his thoughts on the living God. I believe he was meditating on the truth of Exodus 34:6-7. In that passage, God described His character to Moses. Where do we turn when we need comfort, reassurance, and strength? The character of God. Why do I believe the prophet was meditating on Scripture? Take a peek at that Exodus passage. Then read Jeremiah’s next words:

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

Three attributes named by God in Exodus are in Jeremiah’s words here: lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness. Three attributes of God that you and I need to be well-acquainted with. Lovingkindness is that word that means steadfast love. God IS love. He pursues us with a love that never quits.

His mercies are tailor-made each morning for your greatest needs. Take time to turn to Him each day. Identify His work. Count your blessings with gratitude.

And the final aspect of God which brings great hope is His faithfulness. He is as consistent as the daily sunrise. We can look back with great joy. We can look forward with hope.

Jeremiah sums up his thoughts in this tragic situation with these words:

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul. Therefore I have hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:24

When you feel the heartache of injustice, reap the consequences of foolish choices, or are confused by the trajectory of the world, take the pathway Jeremiah laid out for us. Think about God’s character. Dwell on His promises. Depend on Him to show up in your life.

May you and I find our hope anchored in the goodness of God.

Love and blessings,
Dave