Most of my coffee shop chats with friends these days center on the challenges of parenting tweens and teens. We share about decisions we make that are unpopular with our kids and encourage each other to stay the course. 

When you’re the one facing the eye-rolls and disgusted sighs of a child whose happiness you care about, you’ve got to cling to this basic truth: you know what’s best for your child. You know more than she does. She doesn’t understand how you could possibly be acting in her best interest, but you’ve got 20-30 more years of experience in this world, and you are qualified to make some decisions about her life. 

I like to think I’m mature than my kids, but there are times that I want to do more than just roll my eyes at God. “I don’t get it!” I cry out in my pain and confusion. “How could this possibly be Your plan?” 

God’s Word gently reminds me that my heavenly Father is qualified to rule over my days: 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

His ways are not our ways. That feels like an understatement sometimes! And yet, His higher ways are rooted in His higher thoughts, which reflect His infinite wisdom and understanding. His higher ways are good, wise, and righteous because all that He does is consistent with His character. 

The Bible tells us about one more aspect of God’s character that is higher than the heavens. Psalm 103:11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” Even when we don’t understand His ways, we can have confidence in His goodness and love toward us in all that He does. 

These are two things our finite human minds can’t fathom: God’s ways and God’s steadfast love. When we don’t understand what He’s doing, we can trust that His actions flow from both His infinite wisdom and His steadfast love for His children. 

No matter what you face this week, His ways and His steadfast love are as high as the heavens. 

Share

I’ve never been a morning person. I used to be a night owl, but I’m not that anymore either. I’m basically just good for a few hours in the middle of the day. 🙂 But since the middle of the day isn’t really enough, I’m working on being a morning person. Sometimes the early mornings feel quiet, peaceful, and filled with the promise of a great day. Sometimes the early mornings feel heavy with the burdens of the day’s challenges or the trials loved ones are enduring. 

Lately I’ve been reading Lamentations 3:21-24 each morning. These verses help me shift my perspective from overwhelm and discouragement to confidence and hope. Last week we looked at Lamentations 3:21-22, and today we’ll focus on the next verse. (I’ve included last week’s verses here for context.) 

 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 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 3:21-23)

When I feel overwhelmed by what my day holds, it comforts me to know that in every moment, God’s steadfast love, mercy, and faithfulness are being poured out on me. He sees me. He knows me. He’s in control. And His character is true every. single. day. 

I mentally run through the burdens on my mind and ask, “Is God faithful in this?” The answer is always yes. 

Way too many tasks on my to-do list. God is faithful. 

Parenting struggles. God is faithful. 

Pandemic life hassles. God is faithful. 

Challenging relationships. God is faithful. 

Financial concerns. God is faithful. 

Loved ones battling health problems. God is faithful. 

A chaotic and frightening world. God is faithful. 

What’s weighing on you today, friend? Whatever you’re facing, God is faithful. Every promise in His Word is true. His mercies are new this morning, and they’ll be new again tomorrow morning and all the days after that. His steadfast love for us is sufficient to carry us through any hardship. Our burdens may feel heavy, but His great faithfulness exceeds them all.

No matter what you face this week, God is faithful in every moment of every day. 

Share

Lately I’ve really wished I could talk to my grandparents. They’re with the Lord now, but I would love to hear their perspective on what’s happening in our world. The current global turmoil and uncertainty are unlike anything I’ve seen in my lifetime, and I wonder if my grandparents would offer words of comfort or wisdom from their experience during difficult times like the Great Depression and World War II. 

Even though I miss hearing my grandparents’ wisdom, I do have God’s Word. For the next few weeks, we’ll be encouraged by verses from Lamentations 3. The author of Lamentations (probably Jeremiah) lived through a time even more tumultuous than our own. His homeland of Judah had been invaded and conquered, his people had been taken into exile, and his place of worship had been destroyed. 

In the midst of his extended lament to the Lord, we find these words of hope: 

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end . . .” (Lamentations 3:21-22) 

The author of Lamentations reminded himself of the truth about God, and it filled him with hope even when his circumstances seemed hopeless. His future was uncertain, but he found comfort knowing that God’s steadfast love and mercy would never end. 

When our troubles seem never-ending and our future is uncertain, we still have hope. There’s something that will last even longer than this pandemic: the steadfast love and mercy of God. 

Sometimes I try to imagine what will happen in our world next week or next month or next year, and I grow anxious. I struggle with this, because I want to be prepared and plan for every possibility. But God is asking me to trust Him for today and not worry about tomorrow. All our tomorrows are resting securely in His hands. 

We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we know our faithful God will be with us. We can face the uncertainty in our world with confidence that our troubles will never outlast God’s steadfast love and mercy. 

No matter what you face this week, God’s mercies will never come to an end. 

Share