Less, But Not Hopeless!

Bible Passage

Lamentations 3:21–26 KJV 1900

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 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. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Introduction — A World That Keeps Taking Away

Church, we live in a world where everything seems to be getting less.

Our phones are wireless.

Our cars are keyless.

Our tools are cordless.

Our cooking is fireless.

Our food is fatless.

Our tires are tubeless.

Our clothing is sleeveless.

Young people are jobless.

Children are mannerless.

Relationships are meaningless.

Attitudes are careless.

Feelings are heartless.

Babies are fatherless.

Government seems useless.

Leaders act shameless.

The masses feel helpless.

And if you watch the news too long,

you can become faithless.

If you scroll too long,

you can become joyless.

If you listen to fear too long,

you can become hopeless.

But I came to tell somebody today.

You may have less.

But you are not hopeless.

You may have fewer answers.

But you are not without God.

You may have less money.

But you are not less loved.

You may have less strength.

But you are not less covered.

You may have less certainty.

But you are not less secure in the hands of God.

Because when everything is becoming less,

God is still endless.

I said God is still endless.

His mercy is endless.

His compassion is endless.

His grace is endless.

His power is endless.

His patience is endless.

His faithfulness is endless.

And His salvation is priceless.

Testify to your neighbor, “We may have LESS, BUT I’M NOT HOPELESS!”

Context — Hope in the Rubble

Lamentations was not written in an easy season.

It was not written when everything was going right.

It was written after Jerusalem had been torn apart.

Jerusalem has fallen.

The city is broken.

The people are grieving.

The temple has been destroyed.

The streets are empty.

The future looks uncertain.

The people are carrying the consequences of sin.

They had ignored the Word of God.

They had rejected the warnings of God.

They had trusted idols instead of trusting the Almighty.

And now Jeremiah looks at a nation in pain.

He sees tears in the streets.

He sees hungry families.

He sees broken homes.

He sees lost dreams.

He sees a people asking, “How did we get here?”

(Pause)

Have you ever asked that question?

How did my marriage get here?

How did my children get here?

How did my finances get here?

How did my health get here?

How did my mind get here?

How did my faith get this low?

(Pause)

Jeremiah is honest about the pain.

He does not pretend everything is fine.

He does not put a smile over a wound.

He does not call sin righteousness.

He tells the truth.

(Pause)

But right in the middle of all that pain, Jeremiah remembers something.

He says, “This I recall to my mind.”

In other words he says, “I have to make my mind remember what my pain is trying to make me forget.”

I have to remember God,

when trouble makes me forget Him.

I have to remember mercy,

when failure makes me feel finished.

I have to remember grace,

when guilt makes me feel disqualified.

I have to remember salvation,

when Satan says I am too far gone.

And I came to tell somebody.

Your mind may be under attack.

But your memory can become a weapon.

Remember what God has already done.

Remember what God already brought you through.

Remember the doors He opened.

Remember the tears He dried.

Remember the bills He paid.

Remember the sickness He healed.

Remember the danger He blocked.

Remember the time you almost gave up.

Remember the time you did not know how it would work out.

And then remember.

You are still here.

You are still breathing.

You are still praying.

You are still believing.

You are still worshipping.

You are still standing.

You may have less.

But you are not hopeless.

Movement One — WHEN LIFE GETS LESS, REMEMBER MORE

Jeremiah said, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”

Hope did not come because the city changed overnight.

Hope came because his mind changed direction.

The rubble was still there.

The pain was still real.

The loss was still heavy.

But he decided not to let the ruins have the final word.

He decided not to let yesterday define tomorrow.

He decided not to let disappointment become his doctrine.

He decided not to let grief become his god.

He decided not to let a bad season make him deny a good God.

(Pause)

Church, you have to watch what you rehearse in your mind.

Because what you rehearse, you reinforce.

If you rehearse the failure all day, fear will grow.

If you rehearse the betrayal all day,

bitterness will grow.

If you rehearse the diagnosis all day,

anxiety will grow.

But if you rehearse the promises of God,

faith will grow.

If you rehearse the goodness of God,

gratitude will grow.

If you rehearse the faithfulness of God,

hope will grow.

(Pause)

Some of us have become experts at remembering pain.

We remember what they said.

We remember how they left.

We remember how we were mistreated.

We remember who did not show up.

We remember every closed door.

We remember every bad report.

But today the Holy Ghost is saying, remember mercy.

Remember compassion.

Remember the cross.

Remember the empty tomb.

Remember that Jesus still saves.

Remember that Jesus still heals.

Remember that Jesus still restores.

Remember that Jesus still keeps.

Remember that Jesus is coming again.

(Pause)

The enemy wants you to remember your problem.

But God wants you to remember His promise.

The enemy wants you to count what you lost.

But God wants you to count what He left.

(Pause)

You lost some people.

But God left you breath.

You lost some money.

But God left you a mind.

You lost an opportunity.

But God left you purpose.

You lost some strength.

But God left you grace.

You lost a season.

But God left you hope.

And if God left you hope.

You have enough to start again.

Tell somebody on your row, “Remember more.”

Movement Two — MERCY KEPT YOU FROM BEING CONSUMED

Jeremiah says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.”

That word consumed means destroyed.

It means finished.

It means wiped out.

It means overwhelmed beyond recovery.

(Pause)

Jeremiah looks at the wreckage.

And he says, “We should have been consumed.”

“We should have been destroyed.”

“We should have been finished.”

“But mercy stepped in.”

(Pause)

Mercy said, “Not today.”

Mercy said, “They fell, but they are not finished.”

Mercy said, “They failed, but I still have a future.”

Mercy said, “They wandered, but I can still bring them home.”

That is the good news of the gospel.

(Pause)

We are not saved because we were always right.

We are saved because Jesus is always righteous.

We are not saved because we earned God’s favor.

We are saved because grace is a gift.

We are not saved because we never sinned.

We are saved because Jesus died for sinners.

(Pause)

Salvation is not cheap.

Salvation cost heaven everything.

Jesus stepped into our broken world.

He carried our sins to Calvary.

He bore the punishment that we deserved.

Jesus died.

Jesus was buried.

Jesus rose again.

And because He lives, mercy still speaks.

Mercy speaks when guilt says,

“You are done.”

Mercy speaks when shame says,

“Hide yourself.”

Mercy speaks when failure says,

“Give up.”

Mercy speaks when temptation says, “

You will never change.”

Mercy says, “Come back.”

Mercy says, “Get up.”

Mercy says, “Pray again.”

Mercy says, “Trust again.”

Mercy says, “Try again.”

Mercy says, “There is still room at the cross.”

Somebody ought to thank God that He did not give you what your sins deserved.

You made mistakes.

But mercy covered you.

You took the wrong road.

But mercy redirected you.

You trusted the wrong person.

But mercy protected you.

You made a bad decision.

But mercy did not abandon you.

You almost lost your mind.

But mercy kept your mind.

You almost lost your family.

But mercy held your family together.

You almost gave up on God.

But God did not give up on you.

It is of the Lord’s mercies.

Not your money.

Not your connections.

Not your education.

Not your title.

Not your reputation.

It is of the Lord’s mercies.

That you are still here.

Somebody shout, “MERCY KEPT ME!”

Movement Three — GOD HAS NEW MERCY FOR AN OLD PROBLEM

The prophet says that the Mercies of God, “Are new every morning.”

New every morning.

Not recycled mercy.

Not leftover mercy.

Not expired mercy.

New mercy!

God give us:

Fresh compassion.

Fresh grace.

Fresh strength.

Fresh courage.

Fresh patience.

Fresh power.

(Pause)

You may wake up with an old problem.

But God has new mercy.

You may wake up with an old grief.

But God has new mercy.

You may wake up with an old bill.

But God has new mercy.

You may wake up with an old pain.

But God has new mercy.

(Pause)

The devil may bring yesterday’s accusation.

But God brings today’s grace.

The enemy may remind you of where you fell.

But God reminds you of where He found you.

You may have cried yourself to sleep last night.

But mercy was waiting at your bedside this morning.

The sun came up.

Your lungs filled with air.

Your heart kept beating.

Your mind still works.

Your feet touched the floor.

That is mercy.

You drove here safely.

That is mercy.

You survived what could have destroyed you.

That is mercy.

You still have a chance to repent.

That is mercy.

You still have a chance to forgive.

That is mercy.

You still have a chance to begin again.

That is mercy.

(Pause)

And every Sabbath, God gives us a holy reminder.

Stop running.

Stop striving.

Stop acting like you are your own Savior.

Rest in the God who made heaven and earth.

The Sabbath tells us that God is still God.

The Sabbath tells us that our value is not in our productivity.

The Sabbath tells us that our life is held by the Creator.

The Sabbath tells us that even when we have less strength, we can rest in endless grace.

Great is Thy faithfulness.

Not great is my faithfulness.

Not great is my ability.

Not great is my income.

Not great is my influence.

Great is Thy faithfulness.

When you are weak.

He is faithful.

When you are waiting.

He is faithful.

When you are grieving.

He is faithful.

When you are healing.

He is faithful.

When you are growing.

He is faithful.

When you do not understand.

He is faithful.

Somebody shout, “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Movement Four — WHEN GOD IS YOUR PORTION, YOU ARE NEVER EMPTY

Jeremiah says, “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul.”

I need us to understand today that, A portion is what belongs to you.

A portion is what sustains you.

A portion is what you live on.

Jeremiah has lost much.

But he has not lost God.

The city is broken.

But God is still his portion.

The future is unclear.

But God is still his portion.

The people are scattered.

But God is still his portion.

(Pause)

His soul says, “I may have less, but I still have the Lord.”

And if I still have the Lord, I still have enough.

You may not have everything you want.

But if you have Jesus, you have what you need most.

You may not have every answer.

But you have the One who knows the end from the beginning.

You may not have every resource.

But you have the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

You may not have every friend.

But you have a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

You may not have the job you wanted.

But you have the God who supplies every need.

You may not have health in every part of your body.

But you have a Keeper of your soul.

You may not have everyone walking with you.

But you have Emmanuel.

God with us.

(Pause)

Church, do not confuse possessions with portion.

You can have possessions and still be empty.

You can have a big house and no peace.

You can have a nice car and no joy.

You can have followers and no family.

You can have money and no meaning.

You can have applause and no assurance.

(Pause)

But when the Lord is your portion.

You can have peace in a small room.

You can have joy with a thin wallet.

You can have praise in a hospital bed.

You can have faith in a waiting season.

You can have hope beside a graveside.

Because the Lord is your portion.

And when the Lord is your portion.

You are never empty.

Movement Five — WAITING IS NOT WASTED

Finally, Jeremiah says, “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him.”

Then he says, “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

Now lets be honest today, waiting is hard.

Waiting on healing is hard.

Waiting on employment is hard.

Waiting on a child to come back to God is hard.

Waiting through grief is hard.

Waiting for direction is hard.

Waiting when the bills are due is hard.

But waiting on God is not doing nothing.

Waiting on God is trusting while you do not understand.

Waiting on God is obeying while you do not see results.

Waiting on God is worshipping while the tears are still falling.

Waiting on God is holding on when your hands are tired.

Waiting on God is refusing to quit because God has not quit on you.

(Pause)

The Bible does not say God is good only when He moves fast.

The Bible says God is good.

Period.

God is good in the answer.

God is good in the process.

God is good in the breakthrough.

God is good in the waiting room.

God is good when the door opens.

God is good when He closes a door to protect you.

(Pause)

You don’t have to understand His hand to trust His heart.

You do not have to see the whole road to take the next faithful step.

You do not have to know every detail to know that God is good.

Some blessings only grow in a waiting season.

Patience,

Character

Prayer

Discernment

& Dependence on God grows in waiting.

And while you are waiting.

Do not let your praise become less.

Do not let your prayer become less.

Do not let your worship become less.

Do not let your faith become less.

Do not let your kindness become less.

Do not let your commitment become less.

(Pause)

Everything around you may be less.

But let your praise be endless.

Let your worship be endless.

Let your trust be endless.

Let your hope in God be endless.

Conclusion — LESS, BUT NOT HOPELESS

As I close,

We see that Jeremiah is surrounded by loss.

But he is not without hope.

He has seen destruction.

But he has not stopped believing.

He has felt sorrow.

But he has not surrendered his soul to despair.

He looked at a ruined city.

And still found mercy.

He looked at broken lives.

And still found compassion.

He looked at an uncertain future.

And still found hope.

And that is the word for this house.

Some things may be less.

But God is still endless.

Your money may be less.

Your strength may be less.

Your options may be less.

Your friends may be less.

Your confidence may be less.

Your health may be under pressure.

Your family may be under attack.

Your heart may be hurting.

Your tears may be flowing.

Your night may feel long.

But His mercy is new every morning.

Your road may feel rough.

But His compassion fail not.

Your battle may feel fierce.

But the Lord is your portion.

Your wait may feel difficult.

But the Lord is good to those who wait for Him.

And salvation?

Salvation remains priceless.

Jesus is still the answer.

Jesus is still the way.

the truth.

and he is still the life.

Jesus is still the Lamb of God.

Jesus is still the risen Savior.

Jesus is still coming again.

And if He brought you through yesterday.

He can keep you today.

If He kept you in the storm.

He can keep you in the sunshine.

If He kept you when you had little.

He can keep you when you have plenty.

If He kept you in the valley.

He can keep you on the mountain.

If He kept you when your heart was broken.

He can keep you until your joy comes back.

When I look back over my life.

I can say

I’ve had some good days

I've had some hills to climb

I've had some weary days

And some sleepless nights

But when I look around

And I think things over

All of my good days

Outweigh my bad days

so I won't complain

No matter what we face

through it all.

God has been faithful.

Through it all.

God has been merciful.

Through it all.

God has been my portion.

Through it all.

God has been my keeper.

The devil said, “You will not make it.”

But my soul said, “Great is Thy faithfulness.”

The devil said, “You have lost too much.”

But my soul said, “I still have hope.”

I may have less.

But I still have Jesus.

I may have less.

But I still have mercy.

I may have less.

But I still have grace.

I may have less.

But I still have a song.

I may have less.

But I still have a testimony.

I may have less.

But I still have hope.

And my hope.

My hope.

My hope in God.

Is endless!

Somebody lift your voice and declare:

“I MAY HAVE LESS, BUT I AM NOT HOPELESS!”