by Christine Berglund

His Mercy is New Every Morning

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

One of my favorite scents in all the world is the fragrance of lilacs in the spring. We had a large clump of them in our yard when I was growing up, and I would cut branches to put in vases and mason jars in order to bring that beautiful smell inside. In elementary school, I remember being thrilled and proud to bring a fistful of branches to my teacher as a gift. The smell of lilacs is a sure sign of spring and the beginning of new things. New growth. New life. A fresh start. The sad thing about lilacs, however, is that their time is fleeting. They grace us with their beauty and scent for such a short time, and if a late frost hits, we may not have them at all. We have to wait a whole year for that divine smell again.

In the book of Lamentations, Jeremiah expresses sorrow over the destruction of Jerusalem that the people brought upon themselves. They messed up by being stubborn and rebellious and were punished with hunger, desolation, suffering, and death. Right in the middle of all this doom and gloom; however, Jeremiah recalls something that buoys his spirit.

“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.”
Lamentations 3:21-23 English Standard Version

Like the Israelites, I can be stubborn and rebellious too and, at times, I have caused my own suffering and sorrow by the things I have done and not done. I have messed up as a daughter, a friend, an employee, and so often as a parent. I say something more harshly than I meant or I neglect a person or a responsibility. I get angry and impatient and cause suffering. Thankfully, unlike the lilacs that only bring their beauty and scent for a week or two each spring, the Lord’s love for me NEVER ceases. His mercies NEVER end and are new EVERY single morning, no matter the season. What an encouragement! We may have unpleasant consequences for our sins and mistakes, but God is always there to love us and have compassion on us. We have an opportunity to try again every morning. Though our faithfulness is fickle, God is perfectly faithful to us. Thank you, God, for your never ending mercy.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado