Thank God even when I may have forgotten, the pictures are there to prove and remind me that the God of glory daily, weekly, monthly incessantly visited with me and almost uninterruptedly overshadowed my life with blessings indescribable and too numerous to mention. 

He overruled every satanic mischief. Church, even the fact that we are still here in the first week of Advent 2023 is something to really shout about. The fact is, so many started this year but did not get to finish it. For past blessings and today’s mercies, we go on record one more time to express how genuinely grateful we are. 

Very often, I find myself repeating the insightful words of Jeremiah when he simply declared “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22,23). Sometimes we glibly repeat this passage, not really cognizant of the depth of the truth contained in these two verses. Here according to the context, the author, Jeremiah, is not only reminiscent of the past and some of the misery he formerly experienced, but as he revisits his affliction and misery of yesterday, he is humbled and made to have hope by Yahweh’s present demonstrations of mercy and grace. The present blessings outweigh all the grief and pain of yesterday.  

In Him, there is hope! Surely, we can and do rejoice in the fact that we are not consumed. His compassions are real and new and fail not (v22). His faithfulness to us is exceedingly great (v23). We often find it somewhat difficult to comprehend. All we can say about His compassionate goodness toward us is that they are fresh and new every morning. The church just has fresh reasons to worship and praise Him daily. 

As we begin to close out this year and celebrate another glorious season of Advent, may our hearts overflow with joy unspeakable and hearts bursting with gratitude, even for the times when things were seemingly dark and stressful. The eternal God of the ages diligently watches over His pilgrim church, ensuring we are not consumed and diminished and for this we joyfully celebrate! 

I invite you to further read these inspirational words with me, from Jeremiah’s lamentations, as we conclude this short reflection, and may it serve to refresh your spirits as it has done mine. “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul. Therefore, will I hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord . . . For the Lord will not cast off forever: But though he causes grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men” (Lamentations 3: 24-26, 31-33). According to Eugene Peterson, may we always remember “If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. He takes no pleasure in making life hard, by throwing roadblocks in the way” (Lamentations 3:32). During this season of Advent, we remain grateful for Present Mercies!