VII.
Let’s look for words (and images) of hope today.

What all goes into the prophet’s affirmation – “… therefore I will hope in him”?

VIII.
Lamentations 3:16-24 (NRSVue)

He has made my teeth grind on gravel;
     he has made me cower in ashes;
my soul is bereft of peace;
     I have forgotten what happiness is;
so I say, “Gone is my glory
     and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
     is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
     and is bowed down within me.
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.”

IX.
What do you think?

Maybe he now senses “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases”?

How does he come to that confidence?

And after so forcefully stating his “affliction and … homelessness” what brings him to report, “The Lord is my portion … I will hope in him”?

Look for a moment at the middle stanza of his lament –

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

Are there times we need to voice our despair and afflictions before we can move from there to a place of hope?

Even before we join with the prophet and shout –

his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}