mercy

We often talk about grace…
Amazing Grace…
Saved by Grace…

Everyone likes to receive gifts… that’s what grace is – an undeserved gift.

When I think of the free gift of salvation, it truly is amazing.

Or, how our King takes the ugly ashes in my life and turns them into something incredibly beautiful?

Pure Grace.

But – what about mercy?

Grace is being given something undeserved.

Mercy, on the other hand, is not getting something deserved.

Mercy… no less beautiful and amazing than grace…
But, I wonder why we don’t seem to talk about it as much.

I’m Overwhelmed By You, by Big Daddy Weave, is a song that has been catching my attention lately – we happened to sing it in church on Sunday.

This gets me every single time:

“God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You”

I’m noticing a theme in my life lately that keeps bringing me back to this incredible mercy our King pours out.

And, applying what I’m learning… means extending mercy to others.

Can I just say – grace is so much easier to give.

But – mercy?

Mercy… that’s another story.
Mercy sounds a lot like forgiveness –  it can only be given to those who are undeserving of it…

because mercy is holding back what is deserved.

I don’t know about you… but, that isn’t so easy for me to offer to others.

Yesterday I heard a new song – and this one line stopped me:
“These hands are dirty
I dare not lift them up
To the Holy One.”*

Oh, that shame.
{Perhaps this shame admits our need for mercy and is why it is difficult to talk about sometimes.}

Like dirty hands…
only sometimes it hides deep in my heart.

You know – those words thought of – dwelled on, even – but perhaps justified because they are left unspoken…

Even these things that are hidden, our Savior sees.
He is not unaware.

…sigh…

But He offers MERCY.

“I run into your arms…
unashamed because of mercy”

beautiful.

I can raise my hands to the Holy One – because, even though they were dirty… they have been washed clean with incredible, amazing mercy.

How can I accept such a gift like this… and not offer the same to those around me who are just as undeserving?

Easy.
I’m human.

And – if I dwell on how I have been wronged, it will simply be impossible to extend such mercy.

Can I really accept the gift of mercy from my God… if I’m not willing to let that same gift be offered to others?

Honestly?
It bothers me that I struggle with this so much.
That I would feel like I can’t accept mercy unless I offer it…

See, I fall short.
every. single. time.

And, there again – in this moment of my weak humanness, my God is there holding back what I deserve to cover me in mercy… so I can come running to Him.

This.
This kind of mercy… can only come from one Source – and it isn’t me! {ha!}

It isn’t about what I see.

It is about what my King can see and He sees mercy and grace.

Only when my eyes are FIXED on Him can I extend such a gift to others.

It is because mercy has been extended to me that I can extend it to others.

And it really isn’t me at all… I’m so human that it can only be Jesus – through me – that I can offer mercy to others.

So here I am.

Thankful for mercy.

Extended to me… and you.

Beautiful mercy extended to those who deserve so much more.

“You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You break my chains
You overcome
You gave your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be?

Though I fall you can make me new
From this depth I will rise with You
Oh the grace reaching out for me
How can it be?
How can it be?”*

*How Can It Be by Lauren Daingle