Meditation Mondays: God Hears You, Dear Sufferer

55 “I called on your name, O Lord,
    from the depths of the pit;
56 you heard my plea, ‘Do not close
    your ear to my cry for help!’
57 You came near when I called on you;
   you said, ‘Do not fear!’ (Lamentations 3:55-57 ESV)

Meditation

Depths of the pit- that's a good way to describe suffering. Depths of the pit is also a good way to define what judgment feels like. Jeremiah called on the name of the Lord from the pit. There is no place in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that escapes the presence of God. No matter how severe your suffering, the Lord is near and He hears your groaning and His message is 'do not fear!'. How is this possible? It is only possible through Christ. No matter what we endure this side of eternity, those found in Christ have nothing to fear. Our bodies may die, but the Holy Spirit is the keeper of our souls. On the flip side, it is a terrible thing to suffer as one, not in Christ. God does not declare to the unbeliever 'do not fear!' because after suffering and eventually death, judgment awaits- an eternity of God's unrelenting wrath. So take refuge in Christ. Suffer as one in Christ. Cry out to the Lord in the midst of your agony and hear His message, 'Do not fear!'.