1. Lamentations 3

2.  He felt he was in a graveyard (1, 2, 6)  He felt & looked old (3-4)  He felt surrounded, hemmed in, weighed down (5-7)  He felt God had slammed the door on his supplications (8)  He felt God was out to destroy him (10-11)

3.  He felt God had become his enemy (12-13)  He heard the people ridicule him (14)  He felt God was force feeding him bitter herbs (15)  He felt like a man with broken teeth, grov- eling & pleading for mercy in the dust (16)  He felt no “shalom” (17)

4.  He felt he was in the depths of despair; all hope lost (18)

5.  Lamentations 3:19 - Remember my affliction & my wandering, the wormwood & bitterness. 20 Surely my soul remembers & is bowed down within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.

6.  The Lord is merciful & compassionate every day (22-23)  The Lord is our portion; our inheritance (24)  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, & seek Him (25-26)  The Lord “laid it on” us for our good (27-28)

7.  The Lord doesn’t cast off His people & forget them (31)  The Lord loves us in the midst of pain (32)  The Lord doesn’t enjoy chastening His own & He feels our pain (33)  The Lord sees the way His people are treated (34-36)

8.  The Lord is in control of all events (37-38)  The Lord’s chastening is evidence of His love (39)

9. Live one day at a time. Draw upon God’s mercy every day.