“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness” (La 3:22–23).

The old preacher said, “If you don’t like the outlook, try the uplook!” Cognitive therapy agrees there is a vital link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Think good thoughts have good feelings. Think sad things feel sad. In Lamentations 3:21 Jeremiah employs same strategy, “I call this to mind and I have hope.” What did he call to mind? In the following verses he mentions four truths about God.

GOD IS MERCIFUL, v 22a
GOD IS COMPASSIONATE, v 22b
GOD IS FAITHFUL, v 23
GOD IS GOOD, v 24

The days of Jeremiah were not unlike our current times. Cultural decline broke the heart of the prophet. God was judging Judah through the savage hands of the Babylonians. Loss of life, loss of property and societal collapse was all about. Yet in the face of a national crisis Jeremiah changed his thoughts, focused on his loving Lord, and brightened his outlook. And that is how you too can have hope even in stressful times.