I’m not a morning person. So desperately far from it. Peppy conversations first thing in the morning just don’t happen with me. In middle school, I would miss the bus because I slept through my alarm. In college, I’d roll out of bed at 7:52 a.m., throw on the maxi skirt and shirt laying on the floor, and walk into my 8 a.m. class just in time. I used to sleepwalk, beginning my morning routine at 2 in the morning, eating cereal and showering, because the dreaded morning wake-up call produced that much stress for me. And I genuinely believed that one day I’d grow out of being a morning-hater and start to enjoy rising early. It hasn’t happened yet. I still battle mornings. The self-condemnation starts before I even open my eyes. I stumble out of bed, hating myself for oversleeping again, telling myself that tomorrow will be different as I scoop fresh coffee grinds into my coffee maker. I think about the Proverbs 31 woman who rises early, meets with her Lord, and accomplishes things for her family before the sun lights the sky. I’m so not her. And the enemy reminds me that, before my day even begins, I’ve failed. I’m not productive like I wanted to be. My running to-do list is growing, and I’m falling behind. Those thoughts leave me frustrated and unaccomplished, weary and discouraged. Do your mornings play out in a similar way? Do you wake up late, throw on some sweats, skip breakfast, scrap your plan to meet with your teacher before school for help with your homework, and grunt at your friends as you grab your books from your locker and slump into your chair in class? Does stress attack you before you even brush your hair? Do you dread each day? Do you choke back tears as you walk to class because it’s just too much to handle? I’ve been there more times than I can count. Get it together, Samantha, I’d think, drowning in the pressure.
His Grace Really Is New Every Morning
The Lord is showing me, after years of battling mornings of stress and frustration, that He gives the grace I need for each day. Lamentations 3:22–24 isn’t just beautiful—it’s a glorious reality.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
This passage isn’t merely saying today’s a new day. It’s not just a trite mantra that means you can forget about today, because tomorrow will be different. No, this passage is stunning. These three verses sing a brilliant melody of the love, the mercy, and the hope of the Lord. They contain the truth we need to breathe in fresh mercy each morning—evicting frustration and self-condemnation, grabbing onto God’s goodness to us.
Love, Mercy, Hope for Each Morning
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases.” What a difference it would make if this were our first thought each morning, instead of groaning as we scroll through Instagram with weary eyes. His love doesn’t run out on you. His love was there yesterday; it’s there today. His love will still cover you tomorrow morning. You can’t alter it; you can’t lessen it; you can’t lose it. God’s love is steadfast and unceasing.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever (Ps. 136:26).
“His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” The perfect soundtrack for our souls each morning. God hears me when I cry out in desperation on a difficult morning, and He answers. His mercies never come to an end! We can cling to the truth of fresh mercy and know that He is enough to refresh our souls, no matter what we’re facing. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” This is a life-giving, power-filled declaration for each morning. I can’t get over the beauty and power of this verse. Because the Lord is my portion, my anchor, my Savior, I will hope in Him! Notice that it doesn’t just say “I can” hope in Him, acknowledging the option to find our hope in God. No, Jeremiah, the writer of Lamentations, says “I will hope in him.” It’s a decision to place his trust in a faithful, mercy-giving God. Our mornings would be radically transformed if we woke up and said to our hearts, “God is my portion. I will trust in Him!”
When Mornings Are Tough . . .
When you can’t fall asleep because you dread the morning, know that His mercies are enough for you. When you hit the snooze button one more time because you don’t want to face the day, know that His faithfulness is greater than you can imagine. When the enemy attacks you with thoughts of failure and defeat before your feet even touch the ground, grab onto the steadfast love of the Lord. When stress makes it hard to breathe and all too easy to cry, cling to this: “The Lord is my portion. I will hope in Him!” I’ve committed Lamentations 3:22–24 to memory, because I desperately need it every morning when my alarm clock rings. Whatever a new morning brings in your life, will you join me in clinging to the Lord’s steadfast love, new mercies, and promise of hope? What makes mornings difficult for you? And what steps will you take to remind yourself of God’s Truth?