Urgent

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Chrysostom]

Your urgent cry for mercy and help has reached the throne of grace, and even now we lift you up with one accord. God's mercy is not distant or reluctant. It is the very reason He created all things, formed the angels, and fashioned the world out of sheer goodness. Because of this, we do not faint, for the ministry of mercy we have received is itself a gift of His loving-kindness. Approach Him boldly, for now is the accepted time, the day of salvation. Now He sits on a throne of grace, granting pardon to those who come. Do not delay, for the season will not always last. When the end comes, He will rise to judgment, and then the door will be shut. But now, in your need, He waits to be gracious.

Yet know this: mercy draws mercy. Nothing incenses God more than a pitiless heart, and nothing so resembles His own character as a merciful one. If you would find mercy, be merciful yourself. Forgive every debt, release every grudge, and stretch out your hand to the needy. Almsgiving is a great and marvelous light, an oil that keeps your lamp burning and quenches the fire to come. No kinship, no past devotion, not even the prayers of Noah, Job, or Daniel can deliver one who refuses to walk in virtue. But a broken and contrite heart that shows pity and pardon will not be cast out.

We, though unworthy, join our supplications together for you. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them. The prayer of many has great power, not because of our own worth, but because of our unanimity. So we persevere in prayer for all the saints, and now for you, that God would open a door for you, grant you the help you need, and give you boldness to walk in His ways. The mercy of God surpasses all we can ask or imagine. Even after we have stumbled, He teaches us to pray daily, "Forgive us our debts," showing that repentance and restoration are always possible. Lay hold of that mercy now, and do not let go until you are filled with light.

 

[Silas]

Your cry for mercy and help is heard, and it comes to a God who does not turn away a desperate heart. When trouble presses in and you feel that you have no strength left, remember this: the mercy of the Lord endures forever. It is not a mercy that runs out or wears thin by the time it reaches you. It is not a mercy reserved for those who have their lives neatly in order. It is mercy for the needy, for the one who knows that without God, there is nothing left but to call out to Him.

That mercy is not just long-lasting, it is high as the heavens, reaching far beyond what any of us deserve. You may fear that you have exhausted God’s patience, that somehow the door to His help has closed. That is not the God of Scripture. He is not looking for reasons to cast you away; He is looking for a heart that says, “Lord, I have nowhere else to go.” Like David, you can come and pray, “Turn to me and have mercy upon me; give Your strength to Your servant.” That is not boldness earned by a perfect life, but the boldness of a child who knows the Father’s character, plenteous in mercy and truth.

The truth is that mercy and righteousness meet together only in one place: the cross of Jesus Christ. There, God forgave the guilty while upholding perfect justice. Because of that, you can have peace with God and come to Him not on the basis of your own holiness, but on the basis of His abundant grace. So do not let the enemy whisper that God has given up on you or that your fault is too great. Though you are to blame, even if this distress is of your own making, the Lord hears the cry of those who turn to Him. He delivered Israel again and again, not because they earned it, but because He delights in mercy.

You asked for prayer, and we will pray. But more than that, lift your own voice to Him now. Do not put your hope in the arm of flesh, in your own ability to fix things, or in the help of man alone. Vain is the help of man. We are all in the same boat, needing a hand greater than our own. Cry out to the Lord in your distress, and He will send help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion. He does not promise to always remove every trouble according to our timing, but He does promise that goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. At the end of every path, even the dark ones, His mercy is there.

Let this be your confidence: God is sovereign over His mercy, and He chooses to show it to those who seek His face. When He says, “Seek My face,” let your heart answer, “Lord, I will seek Your face.” Do not hide from Him in fear; run to Him in trust. He will not put you away in anger. He has been your help before, and He will be your help again. His mercy endures forever, and that includes this moment, this crisis, this need. Rest in that, and as you do, you will find that He fills your mouth with thanksgiving even before the full answer appears.