26-0104p - Detailed Summary

Tom greets the congregation and introduces the New Year’s theme. The sermon title is "New Mercies for a New Year." Four days into 2026, the initial excitement of the new year is fading into ordinary life. Some feel fresh resolve, while others face old habits or lingering burdens. The message, drawn from God’s Word, speaks to every heart—hopeful or weary—with hope from an unexpected source in Scripture.

The verses come from the book of Lamentations, written by Jeremiah amid Jerusalem’s destruction, ruined temple, and captivity. In this book of grief, Jeremiah declares God’s steadfast love never ceases and His mercies are new every morning. These mercies are daily, not annual, offering fresh grace each day as a promise for 2026.

The sermon examines the promise in three parts: the context of despair, the content of God’s mercy, and the call to daily dependence. Additional verses from Lamentations 3:19-26 are read, emphasizing hope amid affliction through recalling God’s steadfast love and mercies.

Jeremiah describes raw despair: affliction, darkness, grinding teeth on gravel, loss of peace and hope. This mirrors David’s tears in Psalms and many congregants' experiences—loss, grief, health struggles, political turmoil, deaths (including Tom [Mycoskie’s] wife). God welcomes honest lament, but Jeremiah shifts by calling truth to mind.

Jeremiah does not deny pain but refuses to stay in it. He deliberately recalls God’s character, finding hope. Despair is loud, but God’s quiet mercy is stronger. Believers must call God’s truth to mind when circumstances contradict it.

God’s steadfast love (hesed) is unfailing, not performance-based. His mercies are compassionate and never end. They are new every morning like daily manna, evidencing God has not given up. Great is God’s faithfulness, not ours. Scripture echoes this renewal (Isaiah, Psalms, Joel), as does creation’s daily cycles. Daily mercy is needed because humans are frail, sin daily, and resolutions fail quickly due to overestimating self-strength.

Jeremiah responds by declaring God as his portion (sufficient inheritance amid loss), hoping in Him. Believers should wait actively and seek God daily through prayer and Scripture before daily distractions like phones. Wait quietly for salvation, trusting God’s timing without anxiety or dragging past failures (Philippians 3; Matthew 6).

Seven ways to live in daily mercy: (1) Begin with gratitude, confession, surrender; (2) Feed on God’s Word mornings; (3) Pray simply admitting need; (4) Run to grace when failing (1 John 1:9); (5) End days with reflection and rest; (6) Build Sabbath rhythms; (7) Share received mercy by encouraging others and spreading the gospel. 2026 will have hard days, but never without new mercy from the faithful God who sustained Jeremiah and raises life daily.

Tom repeats the key verses, praying they become the congregation’s song. Invitation to receive mercy through faith in Christ or release burdens in prayer. Dismissal with peace, fresh mercy for today, and hope for every tomorrow.