Reconnecting with HOPE
Lamentations 3:18-26
10/6/13
Introduction
http://vimeo.com/62643994
When we are in the midst of Despair, Discouragement, trials the greatest place to find new hope is reconnecting with our great God.
T.S. Turn with me to Lamentations.
Lam 3:18-26
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
NIV
T.S. Those who know God are not immune from darkness, discouragement, disappointment or depression.
P.S. Reconnecting with God reconnects us with hope.
I. Reconnecting with God forces me to face the darkness.
18 So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord."
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Gall--a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will.
We have a tendency to minimize the reality of trials in our lives and when we do we find ourselves battling the dark emotions:
The Dark Emotions
* Grief
* Fear
* Despair
* Discouragement
* Depression
II. Reconnecting with God leads to hope.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Active reconnecting with the presence of God.
A. His love dwarfs our circumstances.
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
The greatest divide could be conquered, we can trust him in the smaller things.
Consumed -- to be spent.
B. He renews our being with life.
for his compassions never fail.
Compassions never fails (never disregards, never sets aside, never dismisses us)
Compassions root word womb, his nurturing tender life giving love.
1. Daily Specific
23 They are new every morning;
2. Guaranteed
Based upon his works not our
great is your faithfulness.
III. Reconnecting with God leads to renewed resolve.
24 I say to myself,
A. Because God is trustworthy
B. Therefore I can trust him
C. Consequently I can wait out, endure, pass through the darkness.
IV. Simple ways to Reconnect with Hope.
* Admit it's Dark
* Search for the Light by reconnecting with God
a. Cry, curse or celebrate
Job 3:1-8
3 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He said:
3 "May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'
4 That day -- may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it.
5 May darkness and deep shadow claim it once more; may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm its light.
6 That night -- may thick darkness seize it; may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.
7 May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.
8 May those who curse days curse that day,
NIV
b. Get it out before God
* Be content if it is just a candle in the darkness.
* Keep seeking Light.
