QT 16/07/2025 Wed. Lamentations 3 Hope in the Darkest Hour: Hope is not a feeling—it’s a decision. 最黑暗时刻的希望：希望不是一种感觉，而是一种决定。
QT 16/07/2025 Wed. Lamentations 3 Hope in the Darkest Hour: Hope is not a feeling—it’s a decision.
READ http://www.esv.org/lam3
Lamentations 3 moves from the deepest sorrow to the highest hope—anchored in God's unchanging character:
Scripture: Lamentations 3:22–23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Devotion:
Lamentations 3 is the emotional and theological center of the book. After two chapters of weeping over Jerusalem’s destruction, the author (likely Jeremiah) takes a personal turn. He says, “I am the man who has seen affliction” (v.1), and he recounts how it feels to live under God’s discipline.
He feels abandoned, walled in, and filled with bitterness. Yet suddenly, everything changes in verse 21:
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope...”
In the pit of despair, the prophet remembers God’s covenant love—hesed—His loyal, faithful, undeserved kindness. God’s mercies are not only present; they are new every morning. Each sunrise is a testimony that God has not forsaken His people.
This is the heartbeat of the gospel. Though we are often faithless, God remains faithful. Though we fall into sin, Christ offers us mercy that never runs dry. Jesus absorbed the full measure of wrath so we could receive the full measure of grace.
Lamentations 3 reminds us that in our deepest suffering, hope is not a feeling—it’s a decision. It’s choosing to believe that God’s faithfulness is greater than our circumstances.
Reflection Questions:
(1) What situation in your life feels hopeless right now?
(2) What would it look like to “call to mind” God’s mercy in that place?
(3) Are you trusting in your feelings, or in God's unchanging faithfulness?
Prayer:
Faithful Father, thank You that Your mercies are new every morning. Even when life is dark and confusing, You remain constant. Help me to call to mind Your truth when I feel lost. Teach me to trust You even when I cannot see the way forward. Great is Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 16/07/2025 星期三. 耶利米哀歌 3 最黑暗时刻的希望：希望不是一种感觉，而是一种决定。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Lam/3/
《哀歌 3》从最深的忧伤走向最高的盼望--以上帝永恒不变的品格为根基：
经文： 《哀歌》3:22-23-- 耶和华的慈爱永不断绝，他的怜悯永不止息。23 每天早晨都是新的；你的信实多么广大！
反省：
《哀歌》第3章是全书情感和神学的中心。在为耶路撒冷的毁灭哭泣了两章之后，作者（很可能是耶利米）开始了个人的转变。他说：“我是在耶和华忿怒的杖下受过苦的人”（第 1 节），他叙述了生活在上帝的管教之下的感受。
他感到被遗弃、被围困、充满苦毒。然而，在第 21 节中，一切突然发生了变化：
“但我的心一想起下面这件事，我就有指望。”
在绝望的深渊中，先知想起了上帝立约的爱--“hesed”--祂忠诚、信实、毫无保留的仁慈。上帝的仁慈不仅存在，而且每天早晨都是新的。每一次日出都是上帝没有抛弃祂子民的见证。
这就是福音的核心。虽然我们常常没有信心，但上帝仍然信实。虽然我们陷入罪中，但基督给了我们永不枯竭的怜悯。耶稣承受了全部的愤怒，我们才能得到全部的恩典。
《哀歌 3》提醒我们，在最深的苦难中，希望不是一种感觉，而是一种决定。它是选择相信上帝的信实胜过我们所处的环境。
思考题
(1) 你现在对生活中的哪种情况感到绝望？
(2) 在这种情况下，“唤起 ”上帝的怜悯会是什么样子？
(3) 你是相信自己的感觉，还是相信神不变的信实？
祷告：
信实的天父，感谢你，你的怜悯每天早晨都是新的。即使生活是黑暗和混乱的，你也是恒久不变的。当我感到迷茫时，请帮助我想起您的真理。教导我相信您，即使我看不到前进的方向。您的信实是伟大的。奉耶稣的名。阿门。
