Hey there, and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Hope in God was written by Kimia Loader.

As the holiday season approached, packaged packaged shipments were delayed due to an unprecedented

influx of online orders. I can remember a time

when my family preferred to simply go to the store and purchase items because we knew we had very

little control over the speed of mail delivery. However, when my mother signed up for an account

that included expedited shipping, this expectation changed. Now, with a two-day

guaranteed delivery, we're accustomed to receiving things quickly, and we become frustrated by delays.

We live in a world accustomed to instant gratification, and waiting can be difficult. But in the

spiritual realm, patience is still rewarded. When the book of

lamentations was written, the Israelites were mourning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian

army, and they faced a series of challenges. However, in the midst of chaos, the writer boldly

affirmed that because he was confident that God would meet his needs, he would wait on him.

God knows we're inclined to become anxious when answers to our prayers are delayed.

Scripture encourages us by reminding us to wait on God.

We don't have to be consumed or worried because his compassions never fail.

Instead, with God's help, we can be still and wait patiently for him.

May we wait on God, trusting in his love and faithfulness,

even as we wrestle with longings and unanswered prayers.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Lamentations, Chapter 3, verses 22 through 26.

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, the Lord is my portion.

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