In 2006-07, our family had a very bad year: cancer afflicted both of my parents; I almost died of an amoebic infection in Africa; and other members of my family had life-threatening experiences.
One night, in midwinter’s deep darkness, I couldn’t sleep. It seemed a demonic power had our family by the throat, squeezing life out of us. Lamentations 3:19-20 expresses how I felt: “The thought of my affliction…is wormwood and gall. My soul…is bowed down within me.”
Yet like that writer, it was in the darkest moment, swamped by despair, that I heard a word of hope: the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases.
There are times when chaos seems to reign in everything. Disorder, disease and death pile up. That’s when we most need to be reminded that God is still at work, quietly, deep in our land, deep in our lives. It’s hard to wait for the dust to clear, for life to resume. But know this for sure: God has not forgotten you!
Divine Lover, help us find rest in you when life is fragile, when much is lost. Remind us that you have gifts of grace for us each new morning. Thank you for your faithfulness! Amen. —