Besieged, Surrounded and Walled in by Grief…

 

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.

He has led me and made me walk

In darkness and not in light.—Lamentations 3:1-2

Last night I read the first 3 Chapters of Lamentations…not exactly light bedtime reading. Here is the thing though. I am sure there are people who read this passage who have not yet experienced the kind of grief that Jeremiah speaks of here.  However, when I read it, I wept.  In Jeremiah’s sorrow…in his poignant metaphors and beautifully descriptive prose…I was able to recognize and feel my own sorrow. It was a relief to know that I was not alone in my grief and that as God did for Jeremiah He could do for me, His weeping child.  

Beloved…There are times in each of our lives as children of God that He Himself leads us and makes us walk in darkness and not in light.  We are besieged, surrounded and walled in by grief. He makes our chains heavy and blocks all our paths. Go back, and read verse 2 again. 

He has led me and made me walk

In darkness and not in light.

One could read that and feel much fear and trepidation. I did not. That one verse brought me much consolation. Beloved..It was God who led me into this present darkness and if it is God who led me than He is still here with me and will bring me out, as it says in Psalm 66, into rich fulfillment. If the darkness is the place where God has led me, than this present darkness is the best place for me.  Again Psalm 66 comes to mind as David exhorts others to praise God for their trials. 

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to be moved.

For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net;

You laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.—Psalm 66:8-12

What a comfort for me to know that it is my Father in heaven who brought me here. I will surrender to Him because He loves me with an everlasting covenant love. He does not give me more than I can handle nor does He afflict His children willingly. As a father pities his children so the Lord pities me.  Truly, I can know that He has an objective view and a good end for me in all of this. (Jeremiah 29:11) For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, according to the multitude of His mercies, He will show compassion. 

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.—Psalm 42:5

So even though this might be the saddest chapter in the whole Bible, my heart was encouraged and strengthened in seeing the footprints of this great prophet, the heart of Jesus, (a Man of Sorrow) and the legacy of the great cloud of believers (Hebrews 12:1-2) who have followed Jesus through the dark valleys of their own lives.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.—Psalm 23:4

But wait there is more. Chapter 3 does not end as it begins. There is a light at the end of this tunnel.  Read with me these words of hope God placed on this suffering prophet’s heart. They are for us as well. The version below is in the Amplified.

Remember [O LORD] my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall (bitterness).

My soul continually remembers them

And is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,

Therefore I have hope.

It is because of the LORD'S lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed,

Because His [tender] compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion and my inheritance," says my soul;

"Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him."

The LORD is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him,

To those who seek Him [on the authority of God's word].

It is good that one waits quietly

For the salvation of the LORD.—Lamentations 3:19-24

God is faithful. His compassions fail not. Whatever you might be facing, you can know without a shadow of a doubt, that as you pour out your heart in surrender to Him, His grace will be there to sustain you and to deliver you in His perfect timing. The Great I Am..the Becoming One…will become for you whatever your need might be. 

'I will go before you

And make the crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the LORD,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.—Isaiah 45:2-3

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Romans 15:4-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.—2 Corinthians 1:3-7