New Every Morning

Scripture Passage

Lamentations 3:22-33

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

²⁸ Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
²⁹ Let him bury his face in the dust—
    there may yet be hope.
³⁰ Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.

³¹ For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
³³ For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

Sermon Script

Our God is the God of SECOND CHANCES.

What does that mean? It doesn’t mean God only gives us two chances. It means that with God, there is always forgiveness. No matter how many times we stumble and fall, there is always the washing away of our sins, and the hope of a fresh start.

If God was not the God of second chances, then none of us would be standing today. We are able to keep on living and moving forward because God has given us a second chance.

God is not the God of second chances because he is foolish. God is not a pushover. God is the God of second chances because that is who God is. God is LOVE. God is unchanging. St. Paul said, “Love never ends.” God gives us second chances because he refuses to give up on us.

The writer of Lamentations experienced that. That is why he wrote these words that begin today’s passage.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23

These words were not written during a happy and peaceful time. They were written during a very dark and hopeless time in Israel’s history.

The Israelites went through a national tragedy. Many of them were violently taken from their homeland and exiled in the country of their invaders – Babylon. Their Temple was also destroyed. Everything that was the source of their pride and confidence were completely shattered to pieces. The prophet Jeremiah had warned them before. But they did not listen. They thought they were untouchable. But they could not be more wrong. They had to face their own failure as a people of God.

Yet, in the midst of what seemed like a never-ending darkness, the writer of Lamentations saw what people could not see. In the sunrise of a new morning, he saw the God of second chances. He experienced God’s steadfast love and mercy. He realized that God hadn’t given up on his people. Out of this came a powerful message of hope for the Israelites.

Unless we have this hope, we cannot keep going. We wouldn’t be able to wait. We won’t see the light in the darkness. We will be consumed by our own failures and disappointments. We will give up. And that will be the end of it.

Peter also went through something similar. He thought he had the strong faith to follow Jesus to his death. But in the critical moment, he denied Jesus. Not once. Three times. Facing his own weakness and failure broke him. He thought that was it. Peter ended up going back to his old life as a fisherman. However, the risen Jesus showed up where he was. He even helped Peter catch fish and ate with him.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

John 21:15

Jesus restored Peter’s shattered self into a solid rock. Peter became the rock of his church.

In the same way, God eventually brought the Israelites back home. It took some time. But God never let their failure have the last word. God fulfilled his people’s hopes and dreams. God blessed them with a new Temple.

With God, there is no end. Because God never gives up on us. There is always the hope of a tomorrow and new day. As the writer of Lamentations said, God’s mercies are new every morning.

Our hope does not lie in our ability to think ‘positive’ thoughts. They have no weight or power. Our hope comes solely from God’s love. Even when we feel powerless and want to give up, God’s love ultimately holds us up.

Sometimes, I go through days where I feel discouraged. I went through that especially this week.

It all came after the celebration from last Sunday’s ordination. The reality of the new change started to sink in. All of a sudden, I felt as if I couldn’t do anything. I felt powerless, incapable, and inadequate. I was tired, scattered, impatient, and frustrated.

One night, I prayed and went to bed. There wasn’t much else that I could do. But the next morning, I woke up to a bright sunshine outside. I felt renewed and strengthened to start again.

Then I remembered the words we read today. I saw the new day and new morning as God’s gift. I saw it as God’s reminder to me to keep going. I experienced God’s goodness.

Our life does not just consist of ‘today’. There is YESTERDAY, TODAY, and TOMORROW. Don’t let the darkness of yesterday carry over into today. At the same time, just because today also looks dark, don’t lose hope. Don’t think that God has stopped being good to you.

The morning will come. Darkness will fade. Wait for God whose mercies are new every morning. Seek God who is always for you, not against you. Let God’s goodness fill your life.

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25, 26

See every morning as a new beginning. Second chance from God. We can always start over because God is with us. We can move forward with God’s help. Be thankful when you open your eyes each day. As God is merciful to you, be merciful and gracious to others.