Glimpse of Encouragement

Earlier last week a friend sent me a text with some verses out of Lamentations to encourage me through my world wind of transition. I sat to read them after she sent me the text, and really thought that the whole chapter reflected my entire walk the last several years. Exactly a week later, tonight...the verses that my friend had sent me a week prior were read aloud at a bible study that I attended.



God sends us the words that we need to hear....when we need to hear them. He is working when we can't see...and loves us even in His time of silence. During those times we must listen closely and feel His love through the glimpses of encouragement.



I think many people feel that at certain times in their lives they have been afflicted...simply besieged and surrounded by hardship. Hardship can be different for everyone, for what might be easy for one person is a mountain for another person.



I believe that these verses from the book of Lamentations reflect how hope will shine through the hardship.



Lamentations 3: 1-9



vs 1: I am a man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

vs 2: He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light:

vs 3: Indeed he has turned his hand against me again, and again, all day long.

vs 4: He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones.

vs 5: He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

vs 6: He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

vs 7: He has walled me in so I can not escape, he has weighed me down with chains.

vs 8: Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.

vs. 9: He has barred my way will blocks of stone; He has made path crooked....



Lamentations: 3: 25-26; 28-29; 31- 33



vs 25:The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

vs 26: It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.



vs 28: Let him sit alone in silence for the Lord has laid it on him.

vs 29: Let him bury his face in the dust there may yet be hope.



vs 31: For we are not cast off by the Lord forever.

vs 32: Though He brings grief he will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.

vs 33: For he does not not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.