“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” (Lamentations 3:25-26).
The book of Lamentations lives up to its name. This short, five-chapter book is an outpouring of grief over the fall of Jerusalem. The author, whom most people believe to be the prophet Jeremiah, is anguished over the desolation coming upon his city. He sees all the terrible things happening around him and wonders where God can possibly be in all of this. He mourns these tragic events, begging for some kind of reprieve. He knows that his people deserve what has come upon them; he acknowledges their numerous transgressions. But though he knows God is the One who is ultimately in charge of this destruction, he still comes before Him to ask for mercy. Though God is the One whose wrath is now being poured out on His rebellious people, He is also the One who can save them.
Despite all this, the author of Lamentations recognizes that God is still in control. This knowledge soon leads him to proclaim God’s goodness, even in the middle of his grief. After listing many different ways in which his life is bitter, he can still proclaim, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (3:22-23). God is faithful to those who wait for Him, who trust in Him even when it seems like there’s nothing left to trust. The author of Lamentations chose to believe in God, to maintain his faith regardless of his circumstances. He was in a terrible place, far worse than most of us have ever experienced. But still he placed his faith in the God whose mercies are new every morning. He resolved to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD, trusting that soon he would see God’s faithfulness anew.