Silas
Beloved of All
Your cry for mercy is one that God hears, and it is the right cry to bring to Him. When we pray for justice we would be asking for what we deserve, and none of us could stand. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, and grace is getting what we do not deserve, blessing and favor from God that we have not earned. Peace with God comes when both are given to us, and Scripture greets believers with grace, mercy and peace for that reason.
Mercy and truth must meet together or mercy would violate justice. They met together in Jesus Christ. At the cross the judgment for sin was satisfied so that God can remain just and still forgive the guilty. That is why you do not need to come to Him on the basis of your own goodness or your ability to correct everything yourself. You come on the basis of His compassion through Jesus, trusting in Christ alone for forgiveness and for reconciliation with God. In Him you can be made righteous before God and have peace with Him.
The Lord is described as full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and truth. His mercy is as high as the heavens are above the earth toward those who reverence Him, and it is from everlasting to everlasting. It endures forever. It is not a supply that runs out after you have failed or asked too many times. He is not looking for a reason to condemn, He is looking for reason to show mercy, and He delights to show it to those who call upon Him. He is sovereign in that mercy, and Scripture says it is not of him who wills or strives but of God who shows mercy. He has made those who trust Him vessels of mercy, prepared to know the riches of His glory.
The feeling that God has closed every door and is making you suffer is very painful, and it is important to know that suffering in this life is not always a sign that God is punishing you for a specific sin. That was the mistake of Job's friends. We live in a fallen creation that groans under the curse of sin, and all of us experience affliction. There is also suffering that comes from being identified with Christ in a world that rejects Him. God uses suffering as part of His refining work. It causes roots to go deep and develops depth of character and strength that cannot be formed any other way. At the same time, the present sufferings are light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory that will be revealed in those who belong to Him. He does not leave you in that suffering without purpose or without help.
Like David you can pray, turn to me and have mercy on me, give Your strength to Your servant. You do not need to have the way figured out before you come. Ask Him for mercy, ask Him for strength for today, and ask Him to show you the next faithful step. He may not open every door you expect, but He will make a way that is consistent with His wisdom and love, and His mercy will be sufficient for each step.
Call upon the Lord in truth, confess where you know you have done wrong and turn from it, and put your trust fully in Jesus Christ who alone can save. Thank Him that He does not impute sin to those who are in Christ, and ask Him to lead you. He is long suffering, He is plenteous in mercy, and His mercy is still available to you now. May He lift you out of helplessness, give you His strength, grant you wisdom to see the way He is providing, and fill you with His grace and peace as you walk with Him.
Mercy and truth must meet together or mercy would violate justice. They met together in Jesus Christ. At the cross the judgment for sin was satisfied so that God can remain just and still forgive the guilty. That is why you do not need to come to Him on the basis of your own goodness or your ability to correct everything yourself. You come on the basis of His compassion through Jesus, trusting in Christ alone for forgiveness and for reconciliation with God. In Him you can be made righteous before God and have peace with Him.
The Lord is described as full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and truth. His mercy is as high as the heavens are above the earth toward those who reverence Him, and it is from everlasting to everlasting. It endures forever. It is not a supply that runs out after you have failed or asked too many times. He is not looking for a reason to condemn, He is looking for reason to show mercy, and He delights to show it to those who call upon Him. He is sovereign in that mercy, and Scripture says it is not of him who wills or strives but of God who shows mercy. He has made those who trust Him vessels of mercy, prepared to know the riches of His glory.
The feeling that God has closed every door and is making you suffer is very painful, and it is important to know that suffering in this life is not always a sign that God is punishing you for a specific sin. That was the mistake of Job's friends. We live in a fallen creation that groans under the curse of sin, and all of us experience affliction. There is also suffering that comes from being identified with Christ in a world that rejects Him. God uses suffering as part of His refining work. It causes roots to go deep and develops depth of character and strength that cannot be formed any other way. At the same time, the present sufferings are light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory that will be revealed in those who belong to Him. He does not leave you in that suffering without purpose or without help.
Like David you can pray, turn to me and have mercy on me, give Your strength to Your servant. You do not need to have the way figured out before you come. Ask Him for mercy, ask Him for strength for today, and ask Him to show you the next faithful step. He may not open every door you expect, but He will make a way that is consistent with His wisdom and love, and His mercy will be sufficient for each step.
Call upon the Lord in truth, confess where you know you have done wrong and turn from it, and put your trust fully in Jesus Christ who alone can save. Thank Him that He does not impute sin to those who are in Christ, and ask Him to lead you. He is long suffering, He is plenteous in mercy, and His mercy is still available to you now. May He lift you out of helplessness, give you His strength, grant you wisdom to see the way He is providing, and fill you with His grace and peace as you walk with Him.
