The Power of Mercy

One of the things that breaks my heart when I spend time in small groups with students is how their young friendships are filled with drama and pain.

Often as they begin to build these early relationships, situations occur that can lead to them feeling left out of a group, or perhaps misunderstood.

This eventually leads to hurt feelings, loneliness and, oftentimes, it turns to anger.

What is supposed to be a time of ease and newness creates an early sense of negativity.

Honestly, you don’t have to be a kid to experience this situation. In my life, I have had relationships that challenged me to the core on how to “love” the way Jesus does. I learned early on that we are not promised perfect relationships as we journey through life. Our unique differences can unfortunatley lead to mistreatment, hurt feelings, uncomfortable conversations and, eventually, a feeling of alienation from what was once someone we cared for.

Inevitably, when our hearts hurt they can turn colder, and one can move quickly away from forgiveness and closer to revenge.

Here, we hear the psalmist cry out in Psalm 83 verses 1-4:

O God, do not be silent!

   Do not be deaf.

   Do not be quiet, O God.

Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies?

   Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up?

They devise crafty schemes against your people;

   they conspire against your precious ones.

“Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation.

   We will destroy the very memory of its existence.”

- Psalm 83:1-4 (NLT)

Can you sense the urgency, panic, and what appears to be a strong desire for God to intervene? God, please step in and handle this very difficult situation immediately, and let your response be swift and mighty.

Then, we read on in verses 13-16:

O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed,

   like chaff before the wind!

As a fire burns a forest

   and as a flame sets mountains ablaze,

chase them with your fierce storm;

   terrify them with your tempest.

Utterly disgrace them

   until they submit to your name, O Lord.

- Psalm 83:13-16 (NLT)

Wow! If I am honest, this takes my breath away. There is no getting around that these bold proclamations literally appear as a cry for vengeance.

Doesn’t that make sense though, when one senses danger, attacks or mistreatment in a relationship, then by all means put on your armor and fight the fight. There is nothing that seems to satisfy us more when we are hurting than to, sadly, hurt back. I know even saying this out loud makes me cringe, why do I choose retaliation when I serve a God who proclaims unconditonal love?

Does the retaliation really bring about peace, or does the cry for vengeance only bring a brief moment of resolve before you realize that hurting someone back does not accomplish what you thought it would.

Friends, we live in a world that is filled with anger and pain that can create a feeling of vengeance. When threatened, our “fight or flight” sensation can override the ability to pause and seek God’s peace in how we respond. In no way, am I implying one should tolerate mistreatment, but I do know that when I give the pain, mistreatment, or disappointment in relationships to God and seek His mercy – not revenge – that choice will lead hurt people to see the power and majesty of God.

Let us close with Psalm 83 verse 18:

Then they will learn that you alone are called the Lord,

   that you alone are the Most High,

   supreme over all the earth.

- Psalm 83:18 (NLT)

Don’t miss that! Don’t miss the power of God’s Mercy!

Pastor Heidi

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