Lamentations 3: Hope in the Midst of Suffering
HOPE IS SUCH an elusive quality. It's easy to be hopeful when life is going well. But it's harder to hang on to hope when trouble obscures our focus. In the midst of horrible suffering, however, the author of Lamentations learned how to experience hope when everything seemed hopeless.
Warming Up to God
What experiences feel hopeless to you? Ask God to show you how you can have hope as you meet him in this chapter.
Read Lamentations 3. »
Discovering the Word
- Why did the author feel so hopeless (vv. 1-18)?
- Why did his hopelessness turn to hope (vv. 19-24)?
- What did he remember about God that changed his perspective on suffering (vv. 25-39)?
- How did the author's prayer relate to his suffering (vv. 40-66)?
- What do you learn in this chapter about the relationship between God's judgment and his love?
Applying the Word
- In what ways has God been faithful to you?
- One way to deal with hopelessness is to be reminded of the character of God. How can you get to know God better?
Responding in Prayer
Praise God for his specific attributes that can give you hope in the midst of suffering. Ask him to help you remember these the next time you hit hard times.
For Further Study
God's Comfort by Jack Kuhatschek