Scripture

Lamentations 3:22-25 ESV

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.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Consider

What does it mean to say, The LORD is my portion? Other Bible translations offer different phrasings: The LORD is all I have (GNT); My soul claims the LORD as my inheritance (TLB); and The LORD is everything I will ever need (NIRV).

Conventional wisdom teaches us to scramble after material goods and hoard them to make our futures secure. “Buy gold and silver,” the vendors shout, “for security you can hold in your hands!” But Jesus warns us not to trust in what can be stolen or corrupted: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).

The heavenly treasure Jesus talks about is the security God promises when by faith we put our hope and trust in the good news of God’s saving grace. Only the steadfast love and unmerited mercies of God can secure for us an eternal future where goodness reigns and evil has no power to hurt or destroy.

God promises a righteous inheritance to those who wait for him. Waiting in this sense does not mean sitting by idly. Rather, it is resting in readiness, that is, living with a quiet mind free from anxiety while expectantly watching for God to act. Even as we wait for rescue and relief from a crisis, we continue to seek God’s companionship through prayer and worship and reading his Word. We notice God in everyday moments that we might miss when fear and worry clamor for our attention.

Remembering that God is our portion allows us to release our friends and loved ones from unreasonable expectations. If we deeply and profoundly believe that we can depend on God for our every need, then we needn’t be offended or disappointed when people fail us. While we wait for God, he bathes our souls in his goodness and mercy and faithful love. Filled up with God’s grace, we are less inclined to accuse and criticize others. Instead, we are moved to love and accept and forgive them.

Pray

Gracious Heavenly Father, I marvel at your generosity to me. Forgive me for the times I take my portion in you for granted. Teach me what it means to wait for you expectantly and to find my joy and peace in the fullness of knowing you.

Reflect

Psalm 37:5-6; John 15:4

Ponder

How might I treat people differently if I could fully grasp the truth that God Himself is my portion?