But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Lamentations 3:21
What does Lamentations 3:21 mean?
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Lamentations 3:21
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The prophet declares he will actively bring something to mind, not passively remember it, which sparks hope. This implies hope isn't automatic but a choice made by focusing on God's enduring nature, even when circumstances offer no comfort.
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
English Standard Version (ESV)
After pouring out his anguish and despair over Jerusalem's destruction, Jeremiah finds a turning point by actively recalling something specific. He shifts from focusing on his suffering to remembering a truth that allows hope to surface, setting the stage for the affirmations of God's faithfulness that follow in the next verses.
When darkness closes in and all you see is ruin, where do you find a flicker of hope? Lamentations shows us the deliberate act of remembering.
Jeremiah, in the midst of profound suffering and national disaster, doesn't stumble upon hope by accident. He chooses to recall something specific. This isn't just a passive remembrance; the Hebrew suggests an active bringing back to the heart. It's a conscious decision to shift focus from the overwhelming circumstances to a chosen truth. This act of intentional recollection is the very foundation upon which hope is built.
What is it about God that fuels hope even when circumstances scream hopelessness? It's not wishful thinking, but a solid anchor in His nature.
The commentators point out that 'this' Jeremiah recalls often refers to what comes after this verse – God's unfailing mercies and great faithfulness. Hope isn't born from denying the reality of pain, but from remembering the unchanging character of God despite the pain. Even when physical circumstances offer no comfort, the prophet finds refuge in God's enduring compassion and truth. This assurance allows him to look beyond the present suffering to a future deliverance grounded in who God is.
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Lamentations was likely written during or shortly after the devastating destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, a time when hope seemed utterly lost. The prophet Jeremiah, grappling with this profound national tragedy, finds a glimmer of hope not in his circumstances, but by recalling God's enduring mercies and faithfulness. This turns the focus from despair to the character of God, offering a path to hope even in the deepest darkness.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiakim of Judah is taken captive to Babylon along with members of the royal family and elite. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation and exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and another large group of Judeans, including Ezekiel the prophet, are exiled to Babylon. Jerusalem's temple is still standing, but the kingdom is severely weakened.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple. The remaining population is largely deported to Babylon, leaving desolation and despair.
c. 580 BC
Prophetic Ministry in Exile
The prophet Jeremiah, though not exiled, continues to minister to the remnant in Judah, writing the book of Lamentations amidst the ruins and despair following Jerusalem's destruction.
c. 539 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 538 BC onwards
Return from Exile
The first wave of Jewish exiles begins their return to Judah, facing immense challenges in rebuilding their city and their lives.
This passage directly parallels the idea of remembering God's past faithfulness when feeling downcast, which is the core of calling to mind something that brings hope in Lamentations.
Psalm 77:11The Psalmist resolves to recall the 'deeds of the Lord' and God's 'wondrous works of old,' directly mirroring the prophetic act in Lamentations of actively remembering, which leads to hope.
Romans 15:4This verse teaches that 'whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope,' linking the act of recalling Scripture (like Lamentations) to the promise of hope.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4Paul describes God as the 'God of all comfort' who comforts us so we can comfort others, echoing the idea that even in suffering, remembering God's nature provides comfort and therefore hope.
Lamentations 3:22-24This immediate follow-up passage explicitly states *what* the prophet recalls: 'The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his compassions never fail! They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.' This clarifies the source of the hope mentioned in verse 21.
barnesLamentations 3:21: "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope."
This I recall - Rather, "This will I bring back to my heart, therefore will I hope." Knowing that God hears the prayer of the contrite, he begins again to hope.
pooleLamentations 3:21: "This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope."
This, not what was already said, that made them despair, and their souls to bow down; but this, that which followeth, concerning the nature of God, and other good providences. I see nothing in the circumstances of my condition to comfort me, but I see something in God’s nature, and in some other dispensations of his providence, which gives me ground to hope for better things than an utter ruin and destruction.
The prophet declares he will actively bring something to mind, not passively remember it, which sparks hope. This implies hope isn't automatic but a choice made by focusing on God's enduring nature, even when circumstances offer no comfort.
After pouring out his anguish and despair over Jerusalem's destruction, Jeremiah finds a turning point by actively recalling something specific. He shifts from focusing on his suffering to remembering a truth that allows hope to surface, setting the stage for the affirmations of God's faithfulness that follow in the next verses.
After pouring out his anguish and despair over Jerusalem's destruction, Jeremiah finds a turning point by actively recalling something specific. He shifts from focusing on his suffering to remembering a truth that allows hope to surface, setting the stage for the affirmations of God's faithfulness that follow in the next verses.
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:" — The prophet declares he will actively bring something to mind, not passively remember it, which sparks hope. This implies hope isn't automatic but a choice made by focusing on God's enduring nature…
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Last reviewed October 2026