The Lamentations of Jeremiah is the expression of the heart of the prophet coming into agreement with the heart of God for the nations. In the midst of the prophet’s sorrow over the lack of response of the people of Judah, Jeremiah reminds himself that all is not lost, that God is still Lᴏʀᴅ and it isn’t over until the Lᴏʀᴅ is finished.
How vital it is to keep our focus upon God no matter what may surround us. ‘I will call this to mind’ and ‘therefore I have hope’ are a progression and not two disconnected thoughts. What is it that is ‘called’ to mind?
There is stability in the Lᴏʀᴅ and we must keep Him in the forefront of our focus either when life is pleasing or discouraging. He is faithful even though we may be distracted by the momentary. Jeremiah continues with sound advice which includes waiting for God, to see the salvation of the Lᴏʀᴅ, to allow God to complete what He has begun before we draw conclusions as to the merit of what we are going through.
As we age, we may lose our fervor, begin plodding through rather than with the deliberateness we had when our vision of God was fresher. Duration includes waiting, seeking, continuing, being patient in our ‘yoked-togetherness’ with the Lᴏʀᴅ. Jeremiah gave the prophecies of God for over forty years with little positive reinforcement. Except from God. And that was enough. We need to have a long vision of God in our lives. Every Day.