In an uncertain world, there’s an undeniable hope in God’s love and mercy. An unshakable anchor for our soul.
I remember the day well.
A frenzy of emotions strangled my spirit. Tears soaked my face. Joining my husband on the screened-in porch, I fell into a chair and conveyed the frustration.
“Mike, I told the Lord to please end the madness. To stop the hard stuff from happening. I can’t handle anything else. I can’t take any more bad news. And if God’s allowing me to go through harsh circumstances for writing material, then I have enough. I’ll gladly write about fluffy things. Fun, happy, and smiley parts of life.”
In ministry for over thirty years, Mike was sensitive to my hurting heart. “Karen, it’s difficult to try to understand why bad things happen. The Lord already knows what you’re thinking and feeling. But He wants you to tell Him. To cry out to Him.”
After I bared the rawness of my soul, the words seemed to hang in the warm summer air as if I could reach up and grab them.
God’s Mercy for Hopelessness
What caused the sense of hopelessness?
That year, my sister-in-law received a cancer diagnosis. Amy was expected to undergo treatment and be fine (and she is fine today). Yet, for me, it became a breaking point.
Also, thinking back, I never completely processed a fair amount of sad events. So, let’s rewind the film. Because for four consecutive years, significant loss plagued my story. Several marketing jobs I held, abruptly ended.
And we lost both my father-in-law and my father within six months of each other. How could this be? No dads?
Our family, fatherless during holidays and special events. My children no longer with grandfathers in their lives. In addition, our grandchildren missing out on knowing great grandfathers.
Despair and heartache rode the coattails of tragedy.
God’s Mercy for Heartache
Now, 2020 has brought us more loss and a pandemic no one signed up for.
Many of us grapple to find peace and not lose heart. Maybe we feel the sting of life’s slap in the face. Perhaps deep and long-lasting peace seems far away.
Back then, I fnally arrived at a defining moment when the Lord showed me a surpising truth in Scripture. And the Lord gently nudged me to remember.
Sure, I wanted the madness, loss, and hard parts of life to cease—I do now. Yet I’ve discovered a surprising truth about God in the midst of the darkness.
God’s Mercy in a Suprising Truth
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to and end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Never defined by Google: “At no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not ever; not at all.” Synonyms include: “Not at all, certainly not, not for a moment, under no circumstances, on no account, no way, not on your life, not in a million years, when pigs fly, when hell freezes over.”
These terms are used in serious and humorous tones. “I’ll take my boyfriend back when hell freezes over.” Or, “She may forgive me when pigs fly.”
But in black and white, on the pages of God’s Word, it means so much more.
God’s Mercy Never Ceases
I went back and re-read verse 22 inserting synonyms for “never.”
The steadfast love of the Lord ceases when hell freezes over. The mercies of the Lord come to an end when pigs fly.
This will never, never, never, ever happen.
While life continues and I can’t stop bad things from happening, I hold on to the promise of good things…the best things that never end. God’s steadfast love. And God’s mercy.
Have you ever seen a pig fly?
Featured image and bottom image of pig by my son. Top image courtesy of my friend, Laura, river near her home in France. Middle image from our family trip to the beach. Photo designs and text done in Adobe Spark.
Read my article, God Says You’re a Keeper: Mercy Changes Everything.
Oh, Karen, your words are so inspiring here! Yes, God’s mercies are unending, and we can rest in that promise even during the darkest of times.
Blessings!
Glad this encouraged you, Martha. So thankful God’s mercy will end when pigs fly…NEVER! HALLELUJAH! God bless!
Amen. Hold on to His promises and find comfort in knowing He is with us always.
Exactly, Melissa! “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to and end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Love your words here, Karen! Awesome way to inspire and encourage us today.
Appreciate your comment, Diane. We hold on to the promise of good things…the best things that never end. God’s steadfast love. And God’s mercy.
I love your comparisons of God’s mercy never failing unless hell freezes over and pigs fly. Never, never it means to us! The dark season of the soul you encountered, and we all do from time to time seems to draw us either away in bitterness or toward God In submissive surrender. I am sure these lessons gained on the character and steadfast mercy of God will be more tools in your bag to share with others that are hurting. I know you face much as a Pastor’s wife with the varied needs of your church. It was when I was in the trenches that I learned much about kingdom living. It is never about our comfort but about our reliance on Him that anchors and carries us. May God open up the absolute doors for you that are approved by heaven and carry a heavy anointing to change lives!????????????????????????????
Beautifully said, Valerie. I so relate to this: “It was when I was in the trenches that I learned much about kingdom living. It is never about our comfort but about our reliance on Him that anchors and carries us.” So true, my friend. Thank you!
What a creative way to raise our spirits. I understand when maybe not three but four or five difficulties strike all at the same time. Thank you for your uplifting post.
June, glad this encouraged you. In an uncertain world, there’s an undeniable hope in God’s love and mercy. An unshakable anchor for our soul.
Amen amen! Your words spoke straight into my core. I love what you did with this: “The steadfast love of the Lord ceases when hell freezes over. The mercies of the Lord come to an end when pigs fly.” YES!
Jessica, it’s truly a comforting thought to know that hell will never freeze over and pigs will never fly, so the Lord’s love and mercy will never cease to exist!
Never thought I would connect the words “when pigs fly” with a Bible verse, but YES!
🙂
I know, right?! I love Lamentations 3:22 with these synonyms: The steadfast love of the Lord ceases when hell freezes over. The mercies of the Lord come to an end when pigs fly.
I think so many of us need to vent to the Lord during these hard times. I know I am tired and struggle with these times as I try to understand. But I trust God to bring me through or bring me home. And I find peace once again. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Yvonne, King David and the psalmists and others in the Bible vented and lamented to the Lord, why shouldn’t we! Thanks for commenting!
I definitely needed this today, Karen. We’re beset by so many problems we never could have imagined would ever occur, then throw in a pandemic for good measure. It’s been a hard few years. Remembering that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and that his mercies never fail, for they are new every morning, is exactly what I needed to be reminded of today.
Glad this reminder encouraged you, Melinda. May we remember this great truth during hard seasons and any season because God’s steadfast love and mercy is for every day!
Amen, Karen. There are many truths about God’s character and gifts that will change only when pigs fly. Even when life’s difficulties persist, God’s mercy is present. Isn’t it interesting how Lamentations mentions every morning, after a night of reflection, or a night of anxiety. Either way, we can appreciate God’s mercy afterwards. (I sure hope pigs never learn how to fly!)
I truly love this creative way of showcasing the Father’s mercy and faithfulness- even when we’re faithless. I love your son’s pig photo as well!
I am sorry for your struggles, Karen, but knowing how strong of a faith you have, you show us how you lean into the truth of who God is and what His promises are for us despite our circumstances. God bless you for that!
As an apologist, I have studied the whole issue of why bad things happen to good people. It’s probably the number one complaint against God. Yet, at the end of the day, we simply need to trust in His goodness, recognizing that we don’t have all the answers, but we know the One who does.