Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Lamentations 3:4

Encouragement from a mom who launched her seven children and lived to tell about it. Part 8 of 12 devotions in this series from Robin Meadows. 

Pain. Sorrow. Anxiety. Anger. Relief. Numbness. Fear. Joy. The emotions that we feel when going through the grieving process are numerous. In this five-day devotional journey, we'll explore some of the every-day practicalities involved in the grieving process, all while helping to see God as present in a time where that may not be easy to see and feel.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why there is so much suffering in life? When life feels unfair, and the world feels broken, you need to know there’s a God who understands and wants to restore all things. In this plan, you will learn how grieving, hoping, and gratitude can help you make sense of your suffering.

Most likely written by the prophet Jeremiah, Lamentations is a collection of poems mourning the siege of Jerusalem and the coming exile of Judah. Despite the wickedness of God’s people that led to their captivity, the writer reminds his readers the loyal love and mercy of the Lord are truly new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Even in deep darkness, God is our portion, our hope, and our salvation.

When trauma or tragedy strike, it can seem to us that it’s impossible to live again. Neurosurgeon Lee Warren—who has endured his own personal tragedies—says you can survive, find your feet, reinvigorate your faith, and even experience happiness again. His treatment plan works. And hope is the first dose he prescribes.

By journaling our prayers and reflecting on our experiences, we dialogue with God, finding peace and reassurance in His presence, a simple yet profound act of writing down your thoughts to understand them more clearly. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to present our requests to God with thanksgiving, promising that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Lamentations in the Old Testament chronicles the prophet Jeremiah’s mourning as his hometown, Jerusalem, lies in ruins due to his people’s sin. The “daughter of Zion” once prized by God is destroyed. In this six-day devotional, Chantelle Hobbs—a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary—pairs Jeremiah’s emotional prose with lyrical laments expressed in the Spirituals of her forerunners in the faith. Included are original recordings of the songs.

In Holy Week, we encounter a God who moves ever closer to us, even in our brokenness and shame. Yet what lies before us is a question: will we return to the Lord? This year, through repentance and renewal, let us be ready to greet the Lord at his Resurrection. This plan is an excerpt from Dwell's Lenten devotional, "Return," available in its entirety within the Dwell Bible App.

There is a lot of grief and sorrow in the world. This is all a result of human sin, and we are facing the consequences every day. The Bible does not play that down. But it also shows us how it is possible to rejoice in the midst of sorrow, and how God will ultimately create a new earth where grief and sorrow will be no more.

The words celebration and stewardship are rarely connected. Perhaps that’s because we tend to think about stewardship as giving away rather than caring for—or even enjoying. Through this plan’s daily Bible passage and devotional content, you’ll begin to understand how intentional stewardship springs from—and even leads to—celebration.