How do I think of God during trials

Today’s reading in Lamentations 3 got off to a difficult start:

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath;
he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light;
surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long.

Almost incredibly, the translators of the ESV give this a section heading “Great Is Your Faithfulness”. The first 20 verses of the chapter continue this theme as the author is afflicted and crushed.

But this all changes in verse 21:

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

This reminds me of a very important principle – the events of my life do not interpret the Bible, rather the truths of the Bible interpret the events of my life. The author did not look at his suffering and affliction and determine that God was not good or that God was not faithful, or that God was not able to prevent the suffering. Instead he looks at the affliction and says:

For the Lord will not cast off forever,
but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.

I need to remember that God is good, faithful, and able, regardless of the cricumstances of my life.

Posted by David Fenton on Feb 17, 11:26 AM