How often do we find ourselves looking back at a situation and thinking to ourselves, “Shew, thank God for His mercy during that time period!”? Or maybe we don’t even realize how we were delivered God’s mercy until it is pointed out to us at a later time. I know it sure seems that both God’s mercy and grace get taken for granted entirely way too often by pretty much everyone (or so it seems).
So why is it that two important spiritual blessings can so readily be overlooked and taken for granted? I believe that like so many other avenues along the Christian walk, we tend to get lazy and forget the sacrifices that were imparted on our behalf. Even with none of us being worthy of God’s mercy or grace to begin with, truly I tell you the majority surely don’t “measure up” due to their lack of devotion and/or participation as required by the Lord.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6.8 NIV
Why is it we are all so quick to just assume that we’ll be graced with God’s mercy, but we are so unwilling to give it to those around us just as freely and in the same, “no strings attached” mentality that we believe God is bestowing us with it through? I mean we mess up and we automatically give no regard to how it’s going to affect our relationship with God because we know by His mercy we will be alright and we take for granted that our sins are forgiven. But yet, when a friend, loved one or someone within our life makes a mistake we are so quick to judge, condemn, correct, or even go as far as cut them off, and oftentimes not even allotting them the courtesy to give an explanation behind their action, let alone a chance to correct said action.
But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” ‘For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’ Matthew 9.13 NIV
But alas, when that shoe is on the other foot we often long and find ourselves hoping and praying that our loved ones will shower us with the very same mercy that God does. We take it for granted when it pertains to our Christ Jesus, but we’ll wallow in doubt when it comes to believing that we’ll receive it from our parents, siblings, spouse, children, etc.. Does anyone else find that not only odd but sad once you stop and think of it in that light?
Let us approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4.16 NIV
I would tend to argue that the fact that our God is a loving, caring, kind and compassionate Father is why we have become so accustomed to His mercy being given unto us so readily and freely. For many of us it was in fact His mercy that saved us and lifted us from the darkest places in our lives. It was was His mercy paired with His undeniable love for us that has brought us to where we are in our lives today, this very moment. And it will be through His mercy and grace that we triumph in our lives until our last breaths.
For great is thy mercy toward me; And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. Psalm 86.13 KJV
Just as the Lord’s mercy, love and compassion renew every day for us as we are reminded of His faithfulness to us, we need to remember that we too need to practice those attributes unto others, too. After all, we are to live our lives living Christlike, right? So just as we expect Him to grace us so freely with those things, we need to strive to adapt to freely giving them to those around us too. I believe that even in the hardest moments in our lives He intends for us to learn to extend mercy as He would unto us, but not only to those that may have wronged us, but to ourselves also. We always seem to forget the extending of mercy unto ourselves when things don’t go as we had planned.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3.22-23 KJV
Jesus is the Waymaker, our Redeemer. Through Him all things are possible, so if you’re reading this and thinking that reprogramming yourself to be like this seems out of reach or unobtainable, join the club because after going back and reading it I was like, well geesh Spirit, that’s a lot, lol. But I feel this is when we not only need to lean into Him more, but we also need to lean into and onto those in our lives more (carefully). If He brings us to it, He’ll bring us through it and if He brings us together, He’ll show us why. We are to just trust in the process and trust in Him.
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. Lamentations 3.32
Billie is a 40-something stay-at-home momma of five beautiful children and Grammy to three grandchildren. When not wrangling the littles, she babysits for her two adult children. You will find her gardening, canning, baking, and making the most delicious meals for her family. Billie is a multitasker juggling a team of miniature tyrants, a cat, a snake, two dogs, two rats, and nine chickens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and studying her bible. Her passion is sharing the gospel through her writing! So, whether she’s feeding your body with delicious meals or feeding your soul through her writing, join Billie as she takes you on a journey providing you with “Food for Thought.”
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