"His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23
NIV)

What are the most comforting words, which have been
offered in you in time of severe pain or serious
illness? As I reflect on this, the most peace and
comfort has come from words which give hope and help
me to be reassured that God is always faithful. If God
is always faithful to His children, what have we to
fear?

As we read in God's Word, the prophet Jeremiah
witnessed unimaginable horrors when the Babylonians
invaded Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Solomon's temple was
reduced to ruins, and with it went not only the center
of worship but also the heart of the community. There
was no leader for the people and no food, no rest and
no peace. But in the middle of all of this suffering
and grief, Jeremiah, one of the prophets, found a
reason for hope. "Through the Lord's mercies we are
not consumed," wrote Jeremiah, "because His
compassions fail not. They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23
NIV).

Those of us struggling daily with chronic pain and
illness can so easily become discouraged. Constant
pain can change the body chemistry to lead to
depression and this along with other health related
concerns can lead to despair. There are the stresses
related to medical appointments, insurance, side
effects of medications and lack of understanding from
family and friends. However, the bright side is that
there is hope because God has promised us He will
always be faithful and will never leave His children.

Friends, when you feel that you are losing hope,
remind yourself that God is at your side ready to give
you the most important reason to persevere-eternal joy
with Him.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patricia Armstrong lives in Virginia Beach, Va., with
her husband, Richard. Patricia is a retired elementary
school teacher who thanks God for the joy in her life,
which comes from knowing He will always be faithful.
Patricia enjoys her Chronic Pain and Illness Support
Group, church activities, camping, reading and
gardening. She prays that all those who are suffering
with pain and illness will know the real joy that
comes from being a child of God.

=====
"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his
love has been brought to full expression through us." 1 John 4:12

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