The LORD is good to everyone who trusts in him, So it is best for us to wait in patience – to wait for him to save us – And it is best to learn this patience in our youth.

When we suffer, we should sit alone in silent patience; We should bow in submission, for there may still be hope. Though beaten and insulted, we should accept it all.

The LORD is merciful and will not reject us forever. He may bring us sorrow, but his love for us is sure and strong. He takes no please in causing us grief or pain.

Lamentations 3:25-33

Jeremiah’s hope came from his personal experience of the Lord’s faithfulness and from his knowledge of God’s promises in the past. Without these, he would have been unable to comfort his people. Thomas Chisholm wrote his great hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." He had suffered sickness and setbacks throughout his life. But even in his time of great fear, tragic loss and intense suffering he found, just as we can, great comfort and confidence as we trust in God’s great faithfulness.

The best reason for hope is God’s faithfulness.

Our Daily Bread – September 3, 2003