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Lamentations can really be a sad book to read through. Jeremiah wrote about all the things he had seen befall his country. A large part of what he wrote revolved around the heartbreak he felt. He had seen God do exactly what God had said He would do. He doesn’t question God for this…in fact throughout the text he verbalizes that God was correct. Still Jeremiah was heartbroken. He sets a good tone for us when we are confronted by sin in our world. We should hurt for those we see. Never rejoice that someone has messed up or sinned. Instead, no matter if we perceive that they deserve it or not, we should hurt for them. I know, Jeremiah is hurting for his country, not enemies, per se. At the end of the day though, every person we meet is someone that the Lord said was worthy of saving through HIS son. There are no exceptions to the offer of salvation through Jesus, which means that even those who torment us are human beings that God loved enough to offer salvation. Just like Jeremiah’s own country, there will be those who refuse the grace offered. Such occasions are for weeping not rejoicing. Even more so, hidden within Chapter 3 is the great hope for all of us who weep for those who turn away and a hope for them as well. In verses 19-24 Jeremiah speaks of lost wandering, bitterness, and gall he has. He remembers what he has seen, and his soul is downcast within him. Then verse 21— “yet, I call to mind and therefore I have hope.” What does he call to mind? He goes on to speak of the LORD’s great love and that HIS compassions are renewed each morning. In other words, our great hope never fails. When he was downcast, the hope within him was the LORD’s great love. When he saw the devastation that the people’s sin had created, he remembers the LORD’s great love. Each day and each morning were new chances at the LORD’s great love and compassion. God’s great love and compassion became the focal point even surrounded in a sea of despair and loss. Thus, He is our hope, too!