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Listen while you read: "Tell Me The Old Old Story"1 (Lyrics) |
Last December, I went to see an elderly gentleman in a long-term care facility. About three-and-a-half years ago, he had a stroke, but through specific exercises, he recovered quite well. But then one day, he slipped, fell, and broke his hip. The result was that he was unable to continue his rehabilitation exercises. He suffered quite a setback and has been in the home now for about three years. I go to see him on a somewhat regular basis. When I ask him how he is doing, he always says, "I'm content." But he told me one time that that was not the case in the beginning. He blamed himself for the fall and the changes in his life.
During this last visit, we had a good discussion, talking about our families and how they were all doing, and a number of other things going on in our lives. At one point, he reached for his Bible and showed me a passage which he had marked. He intimated that he had had periods of frustration, being unable to do hardly anything by himself or for himself, being so dependent on others to help him, and always knowing or at least thinking that it was his own fault that he had fallen. He told me that during his times of distress, he thinks about this passage:
Lamentations 3:21-24 – This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness, "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!" (NKJV)
Jeremiah had written this when he was having all kinds of problems. The people of Israel had been taken away as captives to a foreign land. Jerusalem and the temple had been burned to the ground. He was a discouraged prophet sitting looking at the city from a distance, probably from the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley. It was a favourite place to look at Jerusalem from a distance. He felt that he had been punished by God and was driven into darkness. He cried aloud for help, but God did not answer him. People laughed at him, and he figured that he did not have much longer to live. As a matter of fact, sometimes, he wished that he were dead, but still, he was sure that his hope was in God alone.
There are times when so many of us have problems. It may be our own sickness, or that of a loved one. Quite often, we remember the death of a family member or a good friend. So many elderly people are lonely. However, if we are suffering or hurting, like Jeremiah, we can be assured that we can always depend on the Lord's mercies and His unfailing love.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that during the times when we are in a state of depression, You will speak to our hearts and comfort us. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Thank you.
Thanks for the good word, Joel.
Thank you, Joel. A good scripture to hang on to!
Beautiful Joel. Blessings,
(Ont.)
Amen Joel, thanks for a good word today.
Blessings.
Thank you, Joel, for this timely devotional reminder of God’s loving care. Blessings.
Thank you, Joel, for this reality check. And for the ministry you continue to engage in. Bless you!
Good morning, Joel,
Thank you for this encouraging message at a time when I am very discouraged.
Hello Joel,
Having spent my career in rehab, your devotional “The Lord’s Unfailing Love”, especially touched my heart.
God bless you!
Thank you for this message Joel. I needed it today. Just got word about a friend’s passing. Depression comes to all of us at one time or another, if only we could all have the strength to call on God in our need. It is not always the old persons who get depressed. Bless you for this message.
(B.C.)
Greetings Joel,
Thank you for writing this morning’s devotional. Very timely, with so much going on in our world right now and the scripture your friend related to in Lamentations is truly one of reassurance. Our Lord is ever ready to deliver His unfailing love upon us when we seek His guidance and care and remain faithful to His word.
Blessings upon you.
(B.C.)
Dear Joel,
Thank you for the inspiring devotional. I lost my brother a few weeks ago to COVID19 and my faith tells me he is in a better place and with a lot more of my family than I am but I still have to go through the sadness and knowing how much I will miss him. It is always good to have another Bible verse to turn to on the harder days. Two brothers lost within in just a little over a year and was totally unexpected. The one I most often turn to is “Be still and know that I am God”. This one helps me to remember that God is in control and knows best. Thank you for always sharing from your heart. Blessings.
Good evening Joel,
I almost feel like I know you from reading your posts on the Daily Devotionals for the past number of years! Periodically I print them off, and I am now looking at the one entitled “There is a Time for Everything”, on January 9, 2020. It reads so much like the experiences my husband and I had at the local LTC home.
After retiring, we held a weekly Bible study at a local LTC, with different friends leading the music. As with you, we saw the decline in the mental/physical abilities of the residents as the median age increased, so that we wondered how meaningful our time there was for all concerned. Also, we were now older, and it got harder for us (me especially) to be with people closer to our age living in those surroundings.
I am always encouraged and challenged when I read your writing and have forwarded some on to a friend or family member.
I received the following thoughts in an email:
Remember to TRUST in His timing, RELY on His promises, WAIT for His answers, BELIEVE in His miracles, REJOICE in His goodness, RELAX in His presence.
What a comfort to know that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present, compassionate, and faithful to His Word.
Blessings in Jesus.
Dear Joel Jonkind.
Thanks for the godly devotional.
What an awesome God God is! He is always there for us. There is none like Him and no one else to turn to in times of hardship. Blessings to you and those you love. Stay safe.
Thank you, Joel, for another very thoughtful devotional today. How I am missing going to the High Desert Haven and having breakfast with my dear “sister” who doesn’t know me anymore. The staff who are Christians went into immediate lockdown before it had been mentioned, and all is well. Being a high desert small city so far, we’ve had only 4 with virus that are recovering in our hospital. But so far, we are abiding by the orders of our governor. God has a plan and my Faith and Trust are in Him.
(CA. USA)