Holding on to our Hope

The New International Version Chapter 3

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Holding on to our Hope

Lamentations 3:22-23

Main idea: This sermon explores God's unwavering faithfulness, its role as our foundation, its power to fuel our confidence, and its dependability in meeting our needs.

Scripture: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Quote: God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. —A.W. Tozer

Introduction

Darkness and uncertainties will invade all our lives. How can we hold on when we face the trials of life? The prophet Jeremiah knew the sorrow of a dark night. He’s often referred to as the weeping prophet because of the tears he cried over the destruction of Jerusalem and the sins of the people. However, even in his sorrow, Jeremiah was able to hold on to hope. It’s not easy to keep on going when are falling apart. Today, the writer pens this word for us to gain some assurance from our God who never fails. Listen to them!

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Isn't it a comfort to know that no matter what we face, God's faithfulness is constant, His compassion, unwavering? It's like a lighthouse in a stormy sea, a steadfast promise that guides us through the darkest nights.

The great Christian author, A.W. Tozer once said, "God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves." What a comforting thought that is! Our God is not bound by time, He is not rushed or pressured. He works in His perfect timing, and His faithfulness is sure.

I want to lift three things from the text today to encourage every listener to, hold on to your hope. First, "Faith is the Foundation of Our Future." Secondly, we'll discuss "God's Faithfulness Fuels Our Confidence." Lastly, we'll focus on "Meeting Our Needs Through Divine Dependability," So, let’s begin our journey through the text today. First, we discover.

Faith as the Foundation of Our Future

In the midst of life's trials and tribulations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, to lose sight of the bigger picture. But when we turn our gaze to the Lord, when we anchor ourselves in His promises, we find a solid foundation upon which to stand. This foundation is our faith - a faith that is not just about believing in God, but about believing God, about taking Him at His word, about trusting in His faithfulness.

The prophet Jeremiah, in the midst of his sorrow, held onto this faith. He knew that despite the despair that surrounded him, God's love was unfailing, His mercies were new every morning. This faith in God's faithfulness was Jeremiah's lifeline, his beacon of hope in the darkness. And it can be ours too.

When we look at our future, it's easy to be filled with uncertainty and fear. The unknown can be a daunting prospect. But when we have faith in God's faithfulness, we can face the future with confidence. We know that no matter what comes our way, God is with us. His love for us is unchanging, His mercies are never-ending. This faith becomes the foundation upon which we build our future.

But how do we cultivate this faith? How do we make it the bedrock of our lives? It starts with understanding the character of God. The Bible tells us that God is love that He is merciful and compassionate, that He is faithful and true. When we understand who God is, we can trust in His promises. We can have faith in His faithfulness.

This understanding of God's character doesn't come overnight. It's a process, a gradual unfolding of truth. It comes from spending time in God's Word, from prayer, from fellowship with other believers. It comes from experiencing God's faithfulness firsthand. As we grow in our understanding of God, our faith in His faithfulness deepens.

But faith is not just about understanding, it's about action. It's about living out our faith in our daily lives. It's about making decisions based on God's promises, not on our circumstances. It's about trusting in God's faithfulness, even when the path ahead is unclear. When we live out our faith in this way, it becomes a powerful testimony to others. It becomes a beacon of hope in a world that is often filled with despair.

Faith is about perseverance. It's about holding onto God's promises, even when the storms of life are raging. It's about standing firm on the foundation of our faith, even when the ground beneath us is shaking. It's about remembering that God's faithfulness is unchanging, that His mercies are new every morning. When we persevere in our faith, we find that it becomes a source of strength, a wellspring of hope. Next, we’ll discover.

God's Faithfulness Fuels Our Confidence

it's easy to feel overwhelmed, to feel as if we're adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Yet, we find solace in the knowledge of God's unwavering faithfulness. This faithfulness, like a beacon of light in the darkness, fuels our confidence.

Consider the story of Abraham. In Genesis 22, we read about God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham, despite the heart-wrenching nature of this command, obeys. He trusts in God's faithfulness, in His promise to make Abraham the father of many nations. Abraham's confidence in God's faithfulness fuels his obedience.

In the same vein, we see the story of David, a shepherd boy who becomes king. In 1 Samuel 17, we read about David's encounter with Goliath. David, a mere boy, stands before a giant, armed only with a sling and a few stones. Yet, David is not afraid. Why? Because he trusts in God's faithfulness. He remembers how God delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear, and he is confident that God will deliver him from Goliath. David's confidence in God's faithfulness fuels his courage.

In the New Testament, we see the story of Peter walking on water. In Matthew 14, we read about how Peter, seeing Jesus’ walking on the water, asks to come to Him. Jesus invites him, and Peter steps out of the boat. Despite the wind and the waves, Peter walks on water. Why? Because he trusts in Jesus' faithfulness. He knows that Jesus, who calmed the storm, can keep him from sinking. Peter's confidence in Jesus' faithfulness fuels his boldness.

In each of these stories, we see how God's faithfulness fuels confidence. It's the assurance that God, who has been faithful in the past, will continue to be faithful in the future. It's the certainty that God, who has kept His promises before, will keep His promises again. It's the confidence that God, who has never failed, will never fail. Finally, we see;

Meeting Our Needs Through Divine Dependability

As we turn our attention to the final point of our discussion, let's consider the truth that our faith in God helps us look forward to the future. This is a truth that is as old as time itself, yet as fresh as the morning dew. It is a truth that is as deep as the ocean, yet as accessible as the air we breathe. It is a truth that is as comforting as a warm blanket on a cold night, yet as challenging as a mountain peak waiting to be climbed.

The first aspect of this truth we will consider is how our faith in God's dependability meets our physical needs. We live in a world where physical needs are a reality. We need food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over our heads. Yet, we also live in a world where these needs are not always easily met. There are times of scarcity, times of lack, and times of uncertainty. But in these times, we can find comfort and assurance in the dependability of God. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." This is a promise that we can hold onto, a promise that we can trust in, a promise that we can rely on. God is dependable. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. And because of this, we can look forward to the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our physical needs will be met.

The second aspect of this truth is how our faith in God's dependability meets our emotional needs. We are not just physical beings; we are also emotional beings. We experience a wide range of emotions - joy and sorrow, love and hate, peace and turmoil, hope and despair. And in the midst of these emotions, we need a rock to cling to, a refuge to run to, a fortress to hide in. And that rock, that refuge, that fortress is God. The great Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, once said, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." This quote, verified by multiple sources, reminds us that true happiness and peace can only be found in God. He is the source of our joy, the giver of our peace, the healer of our broken hearts. And because of this, we can look forward to the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our emotional needs will be met.

The third aspect of this truth is how our faith in God's dependability meets our spiritual needs. We are not just physical and emotional beings; we are also spiritual beings. We have a soul that longs for connection, a spirit that yearns for purpose, a heart that seeks for meaning. And in the midst of these spiritual needs, we need a shepherd to guide us, a light to illuminate our path, a bread of life to nourish our souls. And that shepherd, that light, that bread of life is Jesus. He said in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." This is a promise that we can hold onto, a promise that we can trust in, a promise that we can rely on. Jesus is dependable. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. And because of this, we can look forward to the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our spiritual needs will be met.

The final aspect of this truth is how our faith in God's dependability meets our relational needs. We are not just physical, emotional, and spiritual beings, we are also relational beings. We were created for community, designed for fellowship, made for relationship. And in the midst of these relational needs, we need a friend who sticks closer than a brother, a father who loves us unconditionally, a savior who laid down his life for us. And that friend, that father, that savior is Jesus. He said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." This is a promise that we can hold onto, a promise that we can trust in, a promise that we can rely on. Jesus is dependable. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. And because of this, we can look forward to the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our relational needs will be met.

Conclusion

Good afternoon, I love teaching, and it has been an honor that you came and listen to a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody. Let's remember that His love is steadfast, and His mercies are new every morning. We've explored the depth of His faithfulness, and we've seen how it fuels our confidence, meets our needs, and forms the foundation of our future.

But let's not just keep this knowledge in our heads. Let's allow it to seep into our hearts, to change the way we live and interact with the world around us. Let's let the assurance of His faithfulness be the anchor that holds us steady in the storms of life. For time is filled with swift transitions nought on earth unmoved can stand, build your hopes on things eternal, hold to Gods unchanging hand.