The Lord Is My Portion
“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore, I have hope in Him.’” (Lamentations 3:24).
When we suffer loss, it’s only natural for us to grieve. And in our emptiness and sorrow, it’s also normal that we focus for a time on ourselves and our misery. However, if our attention continues to be directed inward, we will eventually lose our perspective and our hope. Life becomes a confused mixture of “If only I had…,” “I remember when…,” “If I knew then what I know now…,” and “Why…?” Soon guilt, bitterness, self degradation, and even self-justification will lead to an emotional tailspin that could permanently scar or ruin a life. Where is God when all this happens? Does He abandon us when we fall on bad times?
C.S. Lewis felt as if that was the case after his wife died of cancer. He said, “When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be – or so it feels – welcomed with open arms. But to go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away.”
How many can identify with Lewis? And yet, we must admit that since God is infinitely good and loving, He will never forsake us, nor will He allow pain to afflict us, unless it is in our best interest (Rom. 8:28; Heb. 13:5-6b; Jas. 1:2-4). Truly, His compassion is great. Jeremiah remembered the unfailing love of God while feeling abandoned, oppressed, humiliated, and bitter. What he learned during his darkest hour can provide us with hope and encouragement during our times of distress – even when those periods are due to our own rebellion against God.
Jeremiah learned humility of the soul (Lamentations 3:19-20). He bows before God bruised, broken, and humbled. There is no pride in him- only remorse and a sense of total dependence on the Lord.
He also learned hope in God (Lamentations 3:21-23). First, God’s love never ends. And, because of His great love, neither Jeremiah, nor his fellow Jews were totally consumed by Babylon. Second, Jeremiah recalls that God’s concern never fails (Lamentations 3:22b-23). The night may seem lonely and bleak, but the dawn of a new day is a reminder that God is still preserving and caring for His people. Third, Jeremiah also learns that God’s faithfulness never diminishes (Lamentations 3:23b). Regardless of how untrusting and disobedient believers may be, the Lord remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13).
No wonder Jeremiah finally proclaims, “’The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore, I have hope in Him.’” (Lamentations 3:24)
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