I woke up this morning with the phrase “daily assurance” rolling around in my noggin. Perhaps it’s an echo of what we taught Sunday morning about asking our Father for daily bread. We don’t get to ask for tomorrow’s provision, only today’s. In the same way, God provides us with daily confidence and assurance that He is present, mindful, and involved in the events of our lives.
Jesus instructed, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt. 6:34) There is tremendous wisdom in that. As my old professor used to say, no one ever had a nervous breakdown worrying about today. But we’re anxious over tomorrow, next week, a month from now. So we should remember the phrase, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”
The prophet Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. And he knew what he was talking about. He had a rough go of it; nearly forty years of telling the truth and not a single recorded convert. In chapter 3, after penning a litany of afflictions, Jeremiah turns his eyes to the only refuge available. And it’s in that context — the list of woes and troubles — that Jeremiah provides the title of the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3: 21-24)
I have been known to half-jokingly warn: Cheer up, saints, it’s going to get worse. But not this morning. Rather, cheer up, saints, because our God is good and His mercy is new in this cycle of the earth’s rotation. The same God who keeps the universe spinning promises that He will provide the mercy necessary to sustain you, forgive you, and comfort you.
And I know me. Before this day is out, I will be utterly dependent on that mercy. I am grateful that it is renewed daily. That knowledge refreshes my soul.
I have found myself thinking about the futility of worry lately. It adds not one second more to our lives, nor does it procure for us anything we desire.
This is a great and timely reminder to keep our eyes on Christ and to recognize God’s mercy and sovereignty at work ever presently, in our lives.
We are all dependant upon His mercies each day. May God assure us in His son, comfort us, strengthen us, try our faith that it may become stronger and endure.
Pastor Jim, that was just what I needed to hear! Worrying is a popular place to go in light of all that’s happening in world today. Just hanging on to the fact that the darker it gets the nearer the Lord’s return. Just worry( I know) about the salvation of my kids and precious little grandkids.
Thanks for the reminder of our Lord’s daily bounty of mercy.