February 23, 2024

Holding On to Hope When Life’s Not Fair
ASHLEY MORGAN JACKSON

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“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:21-22 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like your soul was screaming in pain? Sure, on the outside, you look the same. You show up, dress up, and tell yourself to hurry up and move past this … but inside, you feel a deep chasm of grief that shouts, This is not fair!

For you, maybe it’s a broken heart you never expected or a season where it feels like the hard things never end. Maybe you’re longing for days gone by and wondering if life will ever be good again. As you lie in bed at night, you can’t help but wonder, God where are You in this?

For me, it was depression.
I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t stop.
I wanted to get better, but I didn’t know how.
I wanted to have more faith and pull myself out of it, but I felt helpless.

I was screaming inwardly because I didn’t want to be the burden that I felt I was to God and others. I wanted to be carefree and full of hope, but instead I was broken and unsure of how to move forward in faith.

As I turned to Scripture for encouragement, I came to Lamentations 3. The author poured out his own sorrow as he shared how he had seen affliction, bitterness and hardship. I found comfort in the fact that he was so honest about his pain. This whole book in the Bible is about lament, which means “a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.”

Yet right smack in the middle of his cries, he made this bold statement: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:21-22).

These verses opened a crack of light into my darkness that day, and I felt my faith slowly stir up once again. I didn’t have to deny my suffering — in fact, it was good to acknowledge it. But even in the midst of depression, I could call truth to my mind.

I pray this encouragement from Lamentations stirs up your faith as well. Even when our souls scream for relief and we’re tempted to wonder if God has left us alone, we can know that His great compassion never has failed and never will fail us. Yes, our circumstances may be painful, but because of God’s great love, the pain will not consume us. We can both acknowledge our pain and remember God’s goodness.

When we choose to remember who God is, we find hope to hold on to.

Oh, Lord, life feels unfair, and I ask You to change it. And until You do, help me to choose to focus on Your great love and faithfulness and stand on the truth that Your compassion never fails. Help me to remember this one day at a time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

The cycle is exhausting: seeing glimpses of goodness and trusting that God will come through, only for things not to work out … again! In these raw and painful seasons, most of us don’t want to admit to feeling upset, disappointed or angry, especially when it’s toward God. That’s why we want to invite you to our next study … Can I Be Honest? How To Process and Express Your Emotions in a Biblical Way, A Study of the Book of Lamentations. This study is your permission to feel your feelings while still keeping your eyes on Jesus: the greatest hope we have. Click here to order your copy, and join us on February 26 in the free First 5 mobile app.

If your soul feels exhausted, you can also check out Ashley’s new book, Tired of Trying: How to Hold On to God When You're Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten! Rich with biblical encouragement, personal story and practical application, Tired of Trying is an invitation to wrestle and face God in your greatest fears, pains and unanswered questions. Order today!

ENGAGE

You can find more encouragement from Ashley on her Instagram, where she shares daily reminders about who you are and whose you are!

If you feel stuck in this season, Ashley has a FREE series for you called “What if You’re Not Stuck? 3 Days to Uncover What God Might Be Doing When You Feel Like You Can’t Move On.”

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 102:1, “Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you” (NIV).

What is one area in your life where God has been faithful to you in the past? Share your testimony of His faithfulness in the comments.

© 2024 by Ashley Morgan Jackson. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org