“This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:21–22)
One of the great enemies of hope is forgetting God’s promises.
You are responsible only for your own ministry of reminding. And the first one in need of reminding by you is you.
The mind can “call to mind,” as the text says: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases” (Lamentations 3:21–22).
If we don’t “call to mind” what God has said about himself and about us, we languish. Oh, how I know this from painful experience! Don’t wallow in the mire of godless messages in your own head. Messages like: “I can’t . . .” “She won’t . . .” “They never . . .” “It has never worked . . .”
The point is not that these are true or false. Your mind will always find a way to make them true, unless you “call to mind” something greater.
Without reminding ourselves of the greatness and grace and power and wisdom of God, we sink into brutish pessimism.
The great turn from despair to hope in Psalm 77 comes with these words: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11–12). John Piper