Lamentations 3:37-38 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
Lamentations was written to Judah in the reality of the oppression of Babylon. They were in this position because of their covenant-breaking idolatry. They had ignored their God and were under the hand of his judgment by way of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Surely, this devastating destruction of the city and exile of God's people would instill fear and panic in the hearts of all who were experiencing it. Even in the middle of this horror, and even though it was brought on by their own disobedience, God's comfort to Israel is that all things are under his control. He is providentially sovereign over all things.
Panic is based on our desire for personal safety amid a crisis. Panic says there is nothing more important than me and my physical well-being and my present life. Is that true? It also says there is no one in charge of my well-being other than me. We panic because we lose control of what we want most. This is why people stockpiled goods in the threat of epidemics like covid or system threats like Y2K (if you can remember that).
I will forever remember the handwritten sign in a supermarket as the threat of covid was looming. The sign said the limit of toilet paper was two packs per family. I was truly thankful for that supermarket's decision to attempt to care for the well-being of as many people as possible in the face of crisis - to not allow personal panic to override compassion and care for others. I am sure there were people who looked at that sign and were angry that they could not stockpile more for themselves.
Christians can certainly lament the difficult situations we face in this world. We can certainly agree that some situations are much more dire than others in their ramifications for our present life. We should never give flippant responses to people experiencing the loss of a job, the threat of wars, the devastation of natural disasters, terminal illnesses or even the loss of our loved ones. These are not trivial.
At the same time, whether we are suffering under the consequence of our own sinful actions or simply in the reality of a creation under the curse of sin, Christians can have an eternal perspective that provides immediate hope. We can know that nothing is ever happening to us that is outside of God's sovereign providence. We might not be able to understand everything in the moment, but we can know that we are in God's hands and his hands are in control. That never means that we will not suffer, but it always means that God is bringing about his good eternal purposes for us, and in us, and for his glory. One day, every Christian will have the benefit of a glorified hindsight. Until that day, our hope is not in a better situation, but in our God who is in control.
If we can grasp this truth, our desire for control makes way for God's providence and trusts in Him who alone holds the future. God's providence can give you peace in your panic.
Lamentations 3:21-26 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.