The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: Day 255 – God Is Good (2025)

Date: September 12, 2025
Main Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 49–50; Lamentations 3; Proverbs 18:5-8
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Podcast by: Ascension

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the themes of God’s just judgment and His unwavering mercy. Fr. Mike guides listeners through powerful and at times distressing prophecies in Jeremiah and Lamentations, emphasizing the persistence of hope even in the darkest moments. The day’s readings serve as both a source of warning and of profound consolation: even in exile, suffering, and personal loss, God’s faithful love endures.

Fr. Mike particularly highlights the message from Lamentations 3 as essential for anyone struggling with pain, lost hope, or the memory of happiness. The reflection offers both honesty about suffering and a call to trust in God’s mercies, which are “new every morning.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Perseverance Through Difficult Biblical Texts

• Acknowledgement of Listener Accomplishment:
  • Fr. Mike recognizes listeners’ perseverance through 255 days, especially through the “prophet” periods of the reading plan, often seen as some of the Bible’s most challenging texts.
  • "Everyone thought, oh, Leviticus is the hardest thing… but when it comes to the prophets…we’re reading things—even like today—we have the condemnation against the Ammonites…against Damascus, against Edom…a big part of us are thinking, okay…Who’s the proud one? Nebuchadnezzar…who are these names?…But you guys persevered." (18:36)

2. Judgments Against the Nations in Jeremiah 49–50

• Overview of Judgments:
  • These chapters contain prophecies of destruction against several nations: Ammonites, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam, and especially Babylon.
• Key Point:
  • God’s justice involves both punishment and, in some cases, eventual restoration ("But afterward I will restore the fortunes..."—Jeremiah 49:6, 49:39).
• Importance of Babylon:
  • Special focus is on Babylon: its impending fall predicted as a sign that Israel’s exile is not forever.
  • “The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up.” (Jer 50:32)
• Relevance for Listeners:
  • These prophecies may feel remote, but they reveal God's commitment to justice and His ongoing plan to restore His people.
  • “He’s going to bring another nation to give justice to the Babylonians, but also to set my people free again…this exile to Babylon is not forever. This destruction is not permanent. I’m going to restore you.” (21:46)

3. Reflection on Lamentations 3: Suffering, Hope, and God’s Compassion

• Raw Lament and Honest Faith:
  • Jeremiah’s words capture profound grief and loss; he describes suffering so extreme that happiness feels like a distant memory.
  • “My soul is bereft of peace. I have forgotten what happiness is.” (Lamentations 3:17, read at 23:13)
• Memorable Quote:
  • Fr. Mike draws a parallel with the experience of many listeners: “If it’s been a long time since you’ve laughed freely, here you are with Jeremiah and God’s word is speaking to you.” (24:14)
• Pivotal Turn to Hope:
  • After describing affliction, Jeremiah proclaims:
    • “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22–24, cited at 25:04)
  • Fr. Mike urges listeners to revisit these verses: “Go back to chapter three of Lamentations and read that section…verses 16–33. He says, for the Lord will not cast us off forever. This is not something God wants. Our pain is not something God wants. He wants our healing. He wants our freedom. He wants our hearts.” (26:15)

4. Proverbs Reflection: The Danger of Gossip

• Scripture:
  • “The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” (Proverbs 18:8)
• Fr. Mike’s Commentary:
  • Gossip and secrets can “become part of us and corrupt us,” warning against savoring and internalizing negativity about others.
  • “Yeah, we love those tidbits of secrets or gossip or news…and they can become part of us and corrupt us. And so we are on guard against them.” (15:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Perseverance:
  “It’s a big deal that y’all have persevered during this time of the prophets...these are tough. But you kept going.” (18:15)

• On Despair and Hope in Lamentations:
  “My soul is bereft of peace. I have forgotten what happiness is. So I say, Gone is my glory and my expectation from the Lord.” (23:30, quoting Lamentations 3:17–18)

• The Turn to Faith:
  “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” (25:04, Lamentations 3:21–23)

• God’s Character:
  “Our pain is not something God wants. He wants our healing. He wants our freedom. He wants our hearts.” (26:23)

• Encouragement to Listeners:
  “Especially if you’ve forgotten what happiness is...help us to hope in you. Help us to trust in you. Help us to love you and to know that you are on our side and your mercies are new every morning.” (27:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:04–03:30] – Introduction, readings for the day, encouragement to listeners
• [03:30–14:25] – Reading: Jeremiah 49–50 (prophecies of judgment and restoration)
• [14:25–16:00] – Reading: Lamentations 3 (affliction and hope)
• [16:00–17:00] – Reading: Proverbs 18:5–8 (on justice and gossip)
• [17:00–18:15] – Opening prayer focusing on God’s justice and mercy
• [18:15–21:46] – Reflection on perseverance through the prophets, significance of Jeremiah’s prophesies
• [21:46–26:23] – Reflection on Lamentations: Suffering, honest faith, the centrality of hope and God’s faithfulness
• [26:23–27:13] – Application to listeners, encouragement to seek God’s new mercies
• [27:13–end] – Closing words, loving encouragement, and sign-off

Tone & Style

Fr. Mike’s tone is pastoral, reassuring, and honest—he acknowledges the emotional and mental burden of these prophetic texts, but never stops calling listeners to hope rooted in God’s real, present mercies. His approachable style frequently connects ancient texts to listeners’ daily trials.

Summary Takeaway

God’s justice is real—but His mercy is inexhaustible. Even when pain and sorrow overwhelm, hope is anchored in God’s unfailing love. Persevere, trust, and let His mercies—new every morning—sustain you, especially when happiness feels lost.

“Help us to persevere. Help us to hope in you. Help us to trust in you. Help us to love you and to know that you are on our side and your mercies are new every morning.” – Fr. Mike Schmitz (27:13)