New Every Morning

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; let him put his mouth in the dust— there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:25-33 ESV).

Not far from where we live in Aledo, Texas, there’s a wonderful little spot that just seems to epitomize North Central Texas. Having left the house early one morning I decided to take one of the back roads before making my way into Arlington for a day of counseling appointments. I was rewarded with an incredible sunrise. I couldn’t help but think this vista was completely unique and new in every way. I was fortunate to be there. I was “blessed.” Part of who we are is that we were created to be blessed. I wish that I was more cognizant of that truth. I honestly don’t wake up every day thinking that God is looking to bless me from the moment the sun rises until the sun rises the following day. Perhaps I’m too busy or preoccupied. However, the truth remains. Blessing has been God’s way since creation. After God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them. Not because Adam and Eve had done anything to make God decide to reward them, but because our God is generous and loves to bless. The unusual thing about the sovereignty of God is that he gets the credit for any blessings that come my way and God gets the blame for the things that happen that cause me to question.” However, in everything blessing is still present. This is the message of the wise writer of Lamentations. Look at the blessings of God in our reading again. Solomon says we receive the Lord’s great love, His compassions never fail, His great faithfulness, His goodness, His salvation, and even His hope! What are you facing today? Have you received bad news from your doctor? Have you experienced a financial setback that threatens your future? Perhaps you are struggling with some relational difficulty in your family. Maybe you are waking each day dreading one more day of your work. Whatever your challenge today, turn your attention to the new blessing of God for you. It’s there. Find it; revel in it. Know that God wants to bless you and is working your good in all things.