Remember God’s Perfect Love — Part 4

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.”
— Lamentations 3:22–24, NIV

The author of the verse above was no stranger to suffering. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, composed the poetic book of Lamentations out of deep anguish. Jerusalem had just been sacked, God’s temple destroyed, and His people taken captive by a foreign enemy. The city that had once been their hope now lay disgraced and humiliated. Despite Jeremiah’s proclamation, they appeared to have been “consumed” after all. Yet, his sights were set on a different hope—one that does not rest on outcomes but on God’s love.

The Hebrew word for wait in this verse is often translated as hope. They are intimately related. It suggests remaining with patient expectancy and trust. Jeremiah did not lose faith; he stayed with God, trusting the Lord’s character despite his circumstances. He found hope in God’s compassion and mercy, drawing comfort from His sustaining love.

When God describes Himself in Scripture, He lists the abundance of His unfailing love and goodness among His attributes (Exodus 34:6). He vows never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). He promises that the waters will not drown us (Isaiah 43:2). And He assures us that nothing will ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:35–39). But sometimes, it feels easier to believe in God’s sovereignty and wisdom during hardship than in His love for us. Yet all three are simultaneously true. When we nurse doubts about God’s love in our hearts, we deprive ourselves of the comfort His love gives. But if we can view our storms through the lens of His love rather than His love through the clouds of our storms, we will make it through.

Verses for Further Reflection:

📖 Romans 8:38–39 — “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

📖 Isaiah 54:10 — “‘Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,’ says your compassionate Lord.”

📖 Psalm 103:11 — “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him.”

Reflection Question:
When hardship comes, do you tend to question God’s love or rest in it? How would seeing your storm through the lens of His love—rather than seeing His love through the clouds of your storm—change things?

Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love that never changes, even when my circumstances do. Forgive me for the times I’ve doubted it. Teach me to view my storms through the truth of Your love and not let the storm cloud my view of You. Let Your love be my anchor, my hope, and my peace. Amen.