In fact, an unlikely Book, from which to get any encouragement … Lamentations!

A Book of tears, wailing, mourning for loss, extreme loss in Judah’s case!

Yet it is Lamentations that teaches us God “mercies” are inexhaustibly fresh! And that God is ever Faithful! As in this beautiful King James wording: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23. Not bad encouragement lines within themselves! (At first Jeremiah here is talking about God, then ends up talking directly to God!)

So now … just a little further into Lamentations chapter 3 we find the “jewel” that is today’s Lesson, today’s Text … “For he (the Lord) doth not afflict willingly ….” Lamentations 3:33

Yes, He does “come down hard” on us at times! (That’s what “anah,” here rendered as “afflict” patently implies.) But not “willingly.” (Translating “leb,” not from His very “Heart!”)

Beautiful!

Yes, God sends us “heavy times, hard experiences” … but only when necessary!

Not simply at His pleasure!

There must be some “greater good” at stake!

That’s how Paul viewed his afflictions, anyway. “For our light AFFLICTION, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of GLORY.” Wow, 2 Corinthians 4:17, another good verse for encouragement, “in the long haul,” as Dad used to say!

I sometimes say God trades our pound of affliction for a ton of glory/eternal reward!

“He doth not afflict willingly!”

So, while you are “in the fire,” my friend … no doubt God has His mighty Hand on the “thermostat!” He KNOWS what He is doing!

He reluctantly, not joyfully or willingly, “afflicts” us.

Always for our “good” and His “glory!”

Now in closing, let me give you the whole “context” in which our “nugget” for today is set: “But though He (God) cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.”

Amazing!

And I pray, helpful to someone today …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell