The verse “God’s mercies are new every morning” comes from Lamentations 3:23, which reads: “They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” This beautiful verse reminds us of God’s constant, faithful love for His people. Even in seasons of hardship and suffering, like the time of exile being lamented in the book of Lamentations, God’s compassion and care for His children are renewed day by day.
There are several key truths we can draw from this verse about God’s renewing mercies:
1. God’s mercies are new every single morning
This phrase indicates the continual, daily refreshing of God’s mercies in our lives. We do not simply receive one mercy at the start that must somehow last us for our whole life. Rather, at the dawn of each new day, God has new compassions awaiting His children. His mercy is not limited or rationed, but constantly replenished.
The fact that His mercies are “new” every morning emphasizes that they are fresh and not worn out. God does not become weary in showing grace to us. And we cannot exhaust His kindness, no matter how often we depend on it. His stores of mercy are never depleted.
2. God’s mercies are perfectly timed
God dispenses His new, undeserved compassion at exactly the right moment – each and every morning. We never have to wait until some future date to experience His care. Nor do we only receive it sporadically or unpredictably. But with the sunrise of each new day, we are assured of new mercies ready to meet our needs.
This perfect, providential timing of fresh grace every 24 hours demonstrates God’s vigilant watchfulness over His people. He knows exactly what we require, and when we need it. And He faithfully provides.
3. God’s mercies are guaranteed by His steadfast character
What makes these new daily mercies possible is God’s own faithfulness to who He is. After proclaiming God’s recurring compassions, Lamentations 3:23 declares, “Great is your faithfulness!” The renewing of God’s mercies is anchored in His rock-solid faithfulness.
God is eternally the same (Malachi 3:6). There is no variation or shadow of turning with Him (James 1:17). He cannot lie or fail to keep His promises (Numbers 23:19). Therefore, when Scripture states His mercies are new every morning, we can confidently count on that as an absolute certainty. It is guaranteed by His steadfast, faithful character.
4. God’s mercies are ours through faith in Jesus
As sinful human beings, we deserve God’s judgment, not His mercy and grace (Romans 6:23). We have all rebelled against our Creator and stand guilty before Him (Romans 3:23). So how can God’s compassion be new every morning for sinners like us?
The answer is the cross of Christ. Jesus willing offered Himself up as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). All who turn from their sins and place their faith in Christ are forgiven and declared righteous before God (Romans 3:21-26). The fresh mercies of God then become theirs as dearly loved children of God (1 John 3:1).
So we access the new compassions our Father has for us each morning through saving faith in His Son, Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).
5. God’s daily mercies are a motivation to worship Him
Since God’s steadfast love and care for His people are renewed every single morning, how should we respond? Lamentations 3 gives us the answer in verses 22-24:
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning… ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'”
The ceaseless flow of God’s new daily mercies compels us to hope and trust wholly in Him. It motivates us to find full satisfaction in Him as the loving Provider of all we need. And it inspires ongoing worship of who God is as the inexhaustible Fountain of grace.
Every morning when we rise and contemplate the fresh compassions prepared for us that day, our souls cannot help but proclaim praise and adoration to our gracious Father.
6. God’s daily mercies give us strength to serve Him
God does not just lavish new grace on us each morning so we can feel comforted and encouraged. His purpose in this is that we might live empowered to serve and obey Him that day.
Lamentations 3 makes this clear in verses 22 and 25: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end… The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”
The Lord pours out His new daily mercies on those who wait on Him, seek Him, and call out to Him. He graciously supplies all we need so that we are equipped and motivated to walk with Him and work for Him that day.
Paul affirmed this purpose of God’s daily grace in 2 Corinthians 12:9 after the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God’s fresh, daily mercies give the strength we require to fulfill His will.
7. God’s daily mercies lead us to repentance
In Romans 2:4, Paul reveals another vital purpose of God’s constantly renewed compassions: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
The new merciful expressions of God’s goodness and longsuffering that we experience each morning are meant to soften our hearts. As we contemplate His steadfast faithfulness to us, despite all our sins against Him, it should humble us deeply and turn us back to Him.
God renews His gracious pledge of mercy every morning so that we would be led again and again to repentant, obedient faith in Him as His beloved children.
8. God’s daily mercies are a foretaste of eternity
For believers in Jesus Christ, the refreshing experience of new mercies from God each morning is just a foretaste of what awaits for eternity. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
The cascade of God’s new daily compassions, as glorious as they are, cannot begin to compare with the exceeding joy, perfect peace, and endless wonders He has stored up for us in heaven. The mercies we now taste are but a preview of the infinite bliss to come with our Savior.
This eternal hope can further encourage and empower us amid trials today. For no matter how heavy our burdens, they are “light and momentary afflictions” producing for us an ever-increasing glory that outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Our daily manna of mercy leads us home.
9. God’s daily mercies teach us to number our days
Since God in His faithfulness renews His mercies for us each new morning, we should steward well each of these gracious days He gives. As Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Numbing our days means living with diligence, intentionality, and an eternal perspective. We maximize the irreplaceable time granted, knowing it holds precious purpose and tasks appointed for us by God.
God’s gift of new mercies every morning reminds us our days on earth are limited. It teaches us to live wisely and with urgency to glorify Him.
10. God’s daily mercies lead us to trust Him for tomorrow
Finally, the faithfulness of God in providing new mercies day by day leads us to entrust the uncertainties of tomorrow into His hands. As His compassions never fail with the dawn of each new morning, we can rest assured they await us tomorrow as well.
In Lamentations 3:22-23, directly after proclaiming God’s new daily mercies, Jeremiah confessed, “The LORD is my portion…therefore I will hope in him.” He could hope in God for the future because of His proven faithfulness each morning.
So we do not need to fear whatever challenges lie ahead, knowing our Father has new mercies prepared to equip us for whatever He calls us to face. Tomorrow’s grace is ready and awaiting those who hope in Him.