When was the last time you experienced mercy? I sat in Bible study one evening, during a time in my life I was struggling with obedience to the Lord in a particular area. Experiencing the cycle of sin, regret, asking forgiveness, and then continuing to regret over and over made me weary and defeated.
Mercy Triumphs
The verse for the evening was James 2:13b which says, Mercy triumphs over judgment. As my group discussed this topic, I felt the Lord’s peace come over me. I sensed His love and His mercy as He reminded me that it was my heart He wanted. Not perfection.
Shame and guilt fell away. A renewed energy and resolve filled me with joy. Paul reminds us in Romans 2:4 that it is God’s kindness that leads us toward repentance. This is so true.
Mercy for Others
I saw this truth play out as a teacher when I had a student lie about something he had done. With patience and love, I shared with him that I noticed how much energy he was using to deny the truth when it would be so much easier to say, “You know, I did it, and I’m sorry.” Then he might have some consequences, but it would all be over soon, and we could move on. “We all make mistakes, even me, and I have to apologize, too,” I told him. I saw his shoulders physically relax, and he confessed the whole truth after that. If I had dealt with him in anger, I doubt he would have been honest.
Our Response
The Psalmist reminds us in our passage today that this is cause for us to praise the Lord! When I think about how beautiful it is that the Lord deals patiently and lovingly with me, my heart overflows. We don’t deserve His mercy, but He gives it to us anyway.
Thank you, Jesus, for paying the penalty of our sin so that we can experience kindness and mercy when we least deserve it.
Be blessed, and enjoy O Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship.
There’s a quiet power in your writing, an ability to convey deep truths without resorting to grandiose statements or complicated jargon. Each sentence feels like a revelation, as if you’ve managed to capture the essence of something fleeting and precious. It’s not often that I find myself thinking about a piece long after I’ve finished reading it, but this is one of those rare times.
The last time I experienced mercy was through a kind word from a friend during a tough time. Reflecting on this story, I’m reminded how healing honesty and forgiveness can be. It’s humbling to think that even in our mistakes, there’s grace and a chance to grow. The way this teacher handled the situation shows the power of patience and love. How can we better extend that same mercy to others in our daily lives?
How blessed we are that Jesus paid the price for our sins. I can’t imagine giving up my son, yet God did give up His son so we could have life everlasting. So glad you’re starting this blog up again. You’re such a beautiful writer..
So grateful He doesn’t give me what I, in my sin, deserve. Thank you for the reminder of His mercy and compassion, and the reminder that I in turn must show that same mercy and compassion to others. Luke 6:36-38
Oh how I have missed these posts!!! I do love the way Jesus lets us mess up over and over and keeps giving us that mercy! He love endures forever!