Hungry? Unwrap A Hope Sandwich

What’s your favorite kind of sandwich?

Here in eastern North Carolina, we have some delicious choices. Nestled on a side street in the lovely coastal town of Beaufort, the Beaufort Grocery offers a crab sandwich that’s out of this world. Sautéed crab cakes with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a rémoulade sauce on a flaky croissant–yes, please. The Chelsea in beautiful, historic New Bern has a club sandwich that’s a go-to in our family–warm pita bread piled high with turkey, cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and raspberry mayo. Wow! And of course, let’s not forget the cupcake sandwich … you know, what you make when you’re in the car with no napkins and you’re eating a vanilla tuxedo cupcake from Happycakes Cupcakery in Morehead City. You stick half of the moist layer of vanilla cake onto the chocolate buttercream frosting to savor every last bite. These sandwiches deliciously satisfy our physical hunger. But what about our soul? Let’s unwrap a hope sandwich.

A Hope Sandwich for the Hungry Soul

In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah is filled with anguish as he weeps over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Yet in the midst of grief, something happens to shift his gaze. The circumstances don’t suddenly get better. Jerusalem still lies in devastation around him. What causes the change in Jeremiah’s focus?

The answer is found in the third chapter of Lamentations. Jeremiah declares “This I recall to mind, Therefore I have hope.” (Lam. 3:21 NASB) He remembers something that brings hope to his desperate soul. A few verses later, he repeats the phrase and adds the reason for this hope. “‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul. ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.'” (Lam. 3: 24 NASB) Jeremiah hopes in God because He is his portion. God is everything Jeremiah needs. Just as a portion of food satisfies the physical body, God is the sustaining life of a soul. Though a portion of something material might run out, God is infinite, “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think …” (Ephesians 3: 20 NASB)

Sandwiched between these two slices of hope are some of the most beautiful promises in Scripture. “The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22, 23 NASB)

Though Jeremiah’s world, and ours, might appear to spin out of control, God’s faithfulness is great. He lavishes His mercy on us every single day. Because He meets us with unfailing love, we can keep going no matter what we face.

The next time despair threatens, let’s open the Bible and unwrap a hope sandwich. With the Lord as our portion, our souls will never go hungry.

Now it’s your turn! What’s your favorite sandwich? And what verses has God used to fill your hungry soul?