Mercy is an unexpected act of compassion, forgiveness, and love.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions––it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)
A few years ago, I sat in the waiting room while my daughter had a biopsy to determine if the sizable mass found on her lung was malignant. I was anxious and braced myself for the worst. At the same time, I prayed for a miracle. Concentrating was difficult, and the book I’d brought to distract me remained unopened. My husband was working out of state, and my daughter’s friend waited with me. However, when he spoke, I could barely listen.
Suddenly, the doctor appeared an hour earlier than anticipated. Her first words were,"The mass is gone . . . cancer doesn’t just disappear …” She continued to talk, but I’d heard all I needed to know. This was the best answer to prayer and I continued to whisper, “Thank you, Jesus.”
How do we hold onto God’s mercy in the midst of a crisis? Scripture tells us that His mercies are never-ending. He is faithful and delivers new mercies every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23/ESV). What an overwhelming concept to comprehend.
How can we begin to define something so abstract and profound? Let’s begin by understanding the terms. At its core, mercy is forgiveness, but it is much more. God’s mercy is the fusion of His divine nature and evidence of His deep love for those who trust Him. Mercy is an unexpected act of compassion, forgiveness, and love (Merriam Webster 2024). God shows His mercy to those who believe in the power and redemption of Jesus Christ. We do nothing to deserve it and cannot earn it, yet God loves us anyway. His mercy reveals His divine goodness.
There are no words to adequately describe our gratitude. But we can come before Him with a heart filled with thanks for the mercies we have seen and those that remain unseen. Join me today in reflecting on God’s mercy. Let gratitude flood our souls, as we give thanks to the Giver.
CONNECT WITH COLLEEN C. HOWARD
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