Pastoral Pondering

Written by Rev. Martha Langford, Senior Pastor at Second/First Church of Rockford, IL

The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy never cease, fresh as the
morning and sure as the sunrise…” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
This paraphrase from Lamentations begins a liturgy for
Morning Prayer in the Book of Common Worship. It speaks
poetically to the faithfulness of God who makes covenant
with us as we seek to be God’s people.
provides a meal, and offers clothing, fellowship, and much
more.
I’m always a little surprised that a book called
“Lamentations” includes such an expression of trust in
God’s hesed, that is God’s unswerving love and kindness
and grace and welcome. Of all the gifts that we receive from
God, the constancy of divine goodness and justice and
mercy is irreplaceable with the things of this world. Nothing
less than celestial mechanics comes close to describing how
much we may trust God to be present with us—in this and
every season.
Thomas Chisholm captured this so well in the hymn, Great
Is Thy Faithfulness. Among his affirmations: “all I have
needed [God’s] hand has provided…” and God gives
“strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow…”
If you ask me, God’s faithfulness is the yeast to my
dreams—making them rise. I can dream dreams of a life
that grows ever deeper toward God, toward the community
of God’s people, and toward this fractured and fearful world
that needs words and deeds of compassionate hope. I can
dream dreams of peace, of mutuality, of authentic
welcome. I can dream dreams of love made tangible by the
work of our hands. I can dream dreams of belonging among
a people who shine with the light of Christ; who love
because they are loved; who put their future in God’s hands
because God is faithful and
so are we.
And so I pray, Dear God, give us strength for today and
bright hope for this and every tomorrow.
Amen.
Blessings, Martha