What Jeremiah Did When He Couldn't Stop Crying

My grandma was one of thirteen children, and a twin. You can imagine the squabbling, the joys, and the challenges of living in such a large family.

My great-grandparents were wise. They knew how to curb complaining. Complaining was reserved for only one day a week and only at the prescribed time. No griping or pouting was allowed any other day of the week. All complaints could only be addressed at the complaining hour.

The book of Lamentations sounds like a written documentation of the day of complaining for Jeremiah. Known as the “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah cried much over the troubles of his people Israel.

He had much to cry about. Lamentations spells it out. Read it in one sitting, and you might not think your challenges and problems and temptations are worth putting in a book, as his was. He had reason to complain. His crying was justifiable.

But, though Jeremiah seemed to cry without stopping, he discovered the key to not living in the spirit of his book of Lamentations.

After enumerating his complaints in three chapters, he discovered an action that eased the weight of his trials.

“This I recall to my mind. . .”

He did something unusual but vital.

He brought something to mind.

Truth.

“This I recall to my mind,” he wrote.  “Therefore I have hope.” (Lamentations 3:21)

He looked up when his world shouted at him to look down.

When he couldn’t stop crying, he brought this truth to mind:

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

When every day seems to be a justifiable complaining hour, remember the weeping prophet.

When he couldn’t stop crying, he looked up.

“When my heart is overwhelmed, 
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)

Photo courtesy of Tony Morrell Photography

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“The Best Thing to Tell Yourself in the Mirror”