God Does Not Afflict from His Heart (Lamentations 3:31-33)
- John Kimbell
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
[For] the LORD will not cast off forever, ³²but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; ³³for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:31-33)
Have you ever been under the charge of an overly strict teacher or a short-fused parent, who seemed a bit too eager to punish the missteps of those in their care? Is that the way you tend to think of God, except on a much grander and terrible scale? Perhaps you picture God sitting on his cosmic throne, delighting to hurl down judgments against your every sin.
It is true that God is a righteous judge, who will punish sin. His curse has fallen upon a sinful world. And He does discipline His children. However, the Bible makes clear that God does not delight in such afflictions or grief for their own sake. He does not “afflict from his heart.” This is what the prophet Isaiah refers to as God’s “strange” work (Isaiah 28:21). How then should we understand the affliction and grief this week’s passage says God causes in our lives?
For one, as opposed to delighting in suffering for its own sake, God always has a greater purpose for our suffering. For those who are saved in Christ, He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness (Hebrews 12:10). For those who are currently living in rebellion against Him, He intends such afflictions to lead them to repentance (Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 13:1-5).
Furthermore, those who hope in the Lord can be certain that they will experience God’s future deliverance from such afflictions. The Lord will not cast off forever. Even in this present life, we experience countless ways that the Lord delivers us from affliction and grief: the financial provision, the loved one’s recovery, the restored relationship. We are right to rejoice and to celebrate such expressions of God’s compassion and steadfast love.
However, our hope is not finally in present-day, earthly deliverances. If we lose our job, or a loved one dies, or the relationship remains broken, we continue to wait with patience for the steadfast love of the Lord. Even when we succumb to death itself, the Lord promises we will not be cast off forever. Those who are trusting in Christ will yet experience the abundance of His steadfast love when they are raised to everlasting joy in His presence. May we wait for that day with patience and live each day He gives us with sustaining faith in the Lord’s gracious promises!
For Reflection
Jeremiah writes about God having compassion in the midst of causing grief. How does knowing God’s character change how you receive grief from Him?
Make a list of God’s past deliverances in your life and praise Him for his help (see 1 Samuel 7:5-12).
In the midst of current hardships, ask Him to remind you of His future grace.
John Kimbell is Pastor of Preaching at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, where he has been serving since 2008. He completed his M.Div. and Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. John was introduced to regular Scripture memory through the Fighter Verses memory program at Bethlehem Baptist Church while attending college in Minnesota. John is married to Sarah and they have six children.