True Christians realize that grace is free, but not many realize that mercy is often severe.
I've been finding that often times we come upon severe mercy but we just don't realize that is exactly what it is. We often call them trials.
There is a wonderful book called A Severe Mercy that is a biography about a couple that is in a deep, deep love. In the end the wife dies so that her husband can love God more. A severe mercy.
Isn't that what trials usually are? Bad things happen so we can grow closer to God. Learn about Him, understand different characteristics about Him in a personal way (like grace, forgiveness and redemption).
Trials force us to see things for what they are. Sin as sin and ourselves as the sinners we all are.
While these trials are often irritating or heartbreaking, it is truly merciful of God to let these things happen to us.
When a friend or parent dies, we get rejected, we get lonely or depressed or whatever it is- God's heart breaks with us because He was man. He understands. HE GETS IT.
He loves us, which means he hurts when we are hurt, and He is there for us when that happens. But it's merciful to us. Because when we are heartbroken and depressed. When we feel we can't go on anymore because it is just too hard. He is there. We can run to Him holding the pieces of our hearts with tears pouring out and say "God, Look what happened I don't know what to do, I'm lost and I don't understand why this had to happen. Help me. You're the only one who can".
When we do that we get to know God as our Comforter, our Prince of Peace, our Hiding Place, a Friend, and our Strong Tower. We get to KNOW God.
And that my friends- is a severe mercy.
Mercy is not giving us what we do deserve. We deserve eternal separation from God because of our sins but that is not what we get if we chose Him.
Philippians 3:8- Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
