每早晨這都是新的。你的誠實，極其廣大。（哀3章）

我想起這事、心裏就有指望。我們不至消滅、是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛、是因他的憐憫、不至斷絕。每早晨這都是新的．你的誠實、極其廣大。（哀 3：21-23）

耶利米先知自從二十歲左右蒙召做先知後，歷經非常人可以忍受的苦難：被同胞排擠、被毆打、被丟在黑牢中、被要求不能娶妻......等。但是在本章中，神默然愛他，使他不自覺心境轉變，並說出這穿越兩千多年的時空，依然能感動人、安慰人的話：「每早晨這都是新的．你的誠實、極其廣大。」

今早與家父通電話，因為稍晚即將奉聯總差派前往沙巴總會協助事工，家父來電說一些鼓勵的話。巧合的是，他提到本章這句話：「每早晨這都是新的．你的誠實、極其廣大。」並說了一個見證。

他說在嘉義教會有一位寡婦，單獨扶養兒女長大，卻在孩子還在高中時罹患肺癌，身體狀況一日不如一日。當時嘉義教會的駐牧傳道林正雄長老（當時還沒按立長老），常常去探訪這位病重卻還年輕的姐妹。傳道就說了這句經文，因為家父是訪問組的，就在旁邊聽到傳道基於真理的安慰。

傳道說：「人會生病，常常是神的旨意，該生病的時候就會生病。既然苦難來了，就坦然面對。」姊妹卻說：「我孩子還這麼小，又不聽話（當時沈迷手機），我又獨自一人要撫養，今天遇到這樣的病，我的生命可能不久了，該怎麼辦？」傳道又說：「妳就安心養病，該吃就吃，該睡就睡，只要早上眼睛張開，又是新的一天，感覺一下神又再給妳一天生命的恩典。神是值得信靠的，必超乎我們所想的。」

後來，這位姊妹奇蹟似地好轉，神讓她平安栽培她的兒子長大，結婚，又生了兩個孩子。她一個寡婦、又罹患癌症，竟能蒙神賜福，為孩子買了一棟房子。如今這位孩子也成為教會的負責人，當她完成這一切之後，才安然離世。正如先知所說的：

我心裏說：「耶和華是我的分。」因此、我要仰望他。凡等候耶和華、心裏尋求他的、耶和華必施恩給他。人仰望耶和華、靜默等候他的救恩、這原是好的。（哀 3：24-26）

先知過往的痛苦、悲傷，突然間似乎豁然開朗，使他可以開口讚美神所給他的苦難：

人在幼年負軛、這原是好的。他當獨坐無言、因為這是耶和華加在他身上的。他當口貼塵埃、或者有指望。他當由人打他的腮頰．要滿受凌辱。因為主必不永遠丟棄人。主雖使人憂愁、還要照他諸般的慈愛發憐憫。因他並不甘心使人受苦、使人憂愁。（哀 3：27-33）

感謝主，這也是我自己在事奉上遭受不順時，心中常常浮現的章節，然後感動不已，並重新得力，繼續勇往直前。阿們！

古時〔或作從遠方〕耶和華向以色列〔原文作我〕顯現、說：「我以永遠的愛、愛你、因此我以慈愛、吸引你。」（耶 31：3）

By Isaiah Kao

There Are New Every Morning ; Great Is Your Faithfulness. (Lamentations 3)

August 21, 2026

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:21–23, NASB 2020)

Since the prophet Jeremiah was called to be a prophet when he was about twenty years old, he had endured suffering beyond what an ordinary person could bear: being rejected by his own people, being beaten, being thrown into a dungeon, being commanded not to marry, and so on. Yet in this chapter, God quietly loved him and caused his heart to change without his even realizing it. He was then able to utter these words that have transcended more than two thousand years of time and space and still move and comfort people today: “They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

This morning, I spoke with my father on the phone. Since I would soon be sent by the International Assembly to Sabah to assist with the ministry there, my father called to give me some words of encouragement. Coincidentally, he mentioned this very verse from this chapter: “They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

He also shared a testimony.

He said that there was a widow in the Chiayi Church who raised her children by herself. While her children were still in high school,however, she was diagnosed with lung cancer, and her physical condition became worse day by day. At that time, Elder Cheng-Hsiung Lin, the resident preacher of the Chiayi Church—who had not yet been ordained as an elder—often went to visit this sister, who was still young but seriously ill. The preacher shared this verse with her. Since my father was serving on the visiting team, he happened to be there and heard the preacher offer her comfort based on the truth of God’s Word.

The preacher said, “People become sick, and often this is God’s will. When the time comes for someone to become sick, he will become sick. Since suffering has come, we should face it calmly.”

But the sister said, “My children are still so young, and they are not obedient either—they were addicted to their phones at the time. I am raising them all by myself. Now that I have this illness, my life may not have much time left. What should I do?”

The preacher then said, “Just rest peacefully and take care of your health. Eat when it is time to eat, and sleep when it is time to sleep. As long as you open your eyes in the morning, it is another new day. Take a moment to sense that God has once again given you the grace of another day of life. God is worthy of our trust, and He will surely do far beyond what we can imagine.”

Later, this sister miraculously recovered. God allowed her to peacefully raise her son to adulthood. He married and eventually had two children of his own. This widow, who had suffered from cancer, was nevertheless blessed by God to the point that she was even able to buy a house for her son. Today, that son has also become the council member of the Wanqiao Church. After she had completed all these things, she peacefully departed this life.Just as the prophet said:

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. (Lam. 3:24–26)

The prophet’s past pain and sorrow suddenly seemed to become clear to him. He was able to open his mouth and even praise God for the suffering He had allowed him to experience:

It is good for a person that he should bear The yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep quiet, Since He has laid it on him. Let him put his mouth in the dust; Perhaps there is hope. Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him; Let him be filled with shame. For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of mankind. (Lam. 3:27–33, NASB 2020)

Thank the Lord. These are also the verses that often come to my mind when I encounter difficulties and setbacks in my service. They deeply move me, strengthen me once again, and enable me to continue moving forward courageously.

Amen!

“The LORD appeared to me from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with faithfulness.’” (Jer. 31:3, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao