I have a confession

I have a confession to make.  There are books of the Bible that I avoid.  Some I avoid because I know when I read them, I will be held accountable for what I’ve read.  But there is one book I’ve avoided simply because of its name.  Lamentations.  I was sitting, waiting for my cell phone to be serviced, and I felt very strongly that I was supposed to read Lamentations.  I said, “God, are You sure?  You know I’ve never read that book, right?”  Still, I felt the urgency to read.  So I did.  And you know what?  It’s a pretty uplifting book.  Or perhaps it hit me right where I needed to be hit today.

Lamentations 3 brought peace to my troubled spirit.  The writer speaks of how his circumstances are bleak, but that he does not lose hope in the Lord because God is faithful.

Today in church, someone came up to me and asked me how I am.  I was honest…and told him I’m not doing so well right now.  I cried.  He told me that God loves me.  I told him that is the one thing of which I am sure.

Funny thing.  I woke up with a sense of foreboding.  But, after reading the book I’ve avoided for 31 years, I have a sense of peace.  No matter what, God is for me.  That is the one think onto which I have to hold.

God is awesome.  God is faithful.  I love Him more today than I did yesterday.  I know that He has called me, anointed me and appointed me to do great things for His kingdom.  But more than anything I can do for Him, or that He can do for me, I rest secure in His love.

Thank you, writer of Lamentations.

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