“Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Google defines mercy as showing compassion or forgiveness towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

I love it when God convicts me when writing a post. There’s a situation I’m currently dealing with which I don’t want to go into details here. Someone crossed a line, and to be honest, it seems justifiable for the person to learn the relevant lessons that come with the action. I was very mad. So was everyone connected to the event. This person has been spoken to a countless number of times but it seems what we’ve been saying has been falling on deaf ears.

In the middle of this, 3 nights ago I picked up my bible to study for this post. Although I have read and studied The Beatitudes previously, I didn’t remember mercy was next.

Immediately I read the meaning of mercy and I got convicted because I realized that although it’s within my power to punish this person, mercy wants me to hold back.

God ALWAYS makes me remember where I’m coming from. He doesn’t do this to make me feel ashamed, but He does it so I can extend the same mercy shown to me daily to others.

In this case, I felt like a hypocrite. Actually, I was. I was exerting my power and authority the way Jesus Christ wouldn’t have.

The world wants us to show and exert strength without feeling. They want us to say the truth without love. The truth is we cannot separate the two. Exerting strength without feeling is us being mean. Saying the truth without love can make us become judgemental. With everything going on in our world today, we need to show mercy to others more. We need to extend the blanket of mercy we enjoy daily to others. If God should remove mercy and judge us the way we deserve, none of us will stand.

I repented and started praying for the person instead. During the prayer, the Holy Spirit showed me exactly what the issue was and He is helping me handle the situation with wisdom.

I used to read the story of the debtor in Matthew 18:21-35 and get very angry at the attitude of the debtor. But that is what we do when we withhold mercy and forgiveness from others.

Jesus Christ knew what was ahead of the disciples. They were going on a rough ride with Him and He knew that for them to overcome and finish strong, they needed to have an unending well of mercy.

The blessing that comes with those who show mercy is that they too will receive mercy.

One thing the Holy Spirit pointed out to me about this case I’m handling is that mercy doesn’t always mean that there won’t be consequences. So in situations where trust has been broken, that needs to be rebuilt again. Mercy, in this case, doesn’t mean you have to lay your guards down. Rather it means doing whatever is being done from a heart of love.

So if you want to bask in God’s mercy, show mercy to others too. It can be difficult but I believe God will never ask us to do something He hasn’t given us the ability to handle.

I feel there is someone reading this post who is really finding it difficult to forgive someone who wronged him/her deeply. It’s someone you trusted and brought into a space you necessarily wouldn’t have allowed anyone else into. You were taken advantage of and now you feel justified not to forgive. You are keeping a distance out of hatred for this person not because you have forgiven and feel it’s healthy to keep the distance.

It is beneficial for you to let go sincerely because you won’t be able to enter into the new season of your life otherwise. It is so because you have caged your freedom in that box of anger.

I would encourage you to forgive and to pray for that person. As you continue to pray, the Holy Spirit will comfort your heart and will enable you to see things from His perspective. As such it will become easier to show mercy so God can begin the healing process in you. You might need to talk to someone about it as this might help you heal.

I pray for strength and wisdom for you.

Mercy is sacrificial. Mercy out-gives. 

Lastly, I would like to point out that to be able to have a heart of mercy, we must have,

• A heart that is poor in Spirit. One that realizes a need for God’s mercy. No “I can never do that” attitude.
• A heart that mourns. A contrite heart.
• A heart that is meek. Full of humility. One that understands that showing mercy isn’t something we can do by our ability.
• A heart that hungers and thirst for righteousness. Not wanting our way. But His way.

I think it’s becoming glaring that these attributes aren’t born with us. They can only be obtained from the Holy Spirit.

Remember to show mercy to those you will meet today. No one deserves it, including us.

 

–Efua Uke is a mentor, blogger, and contributor to Ambo TV.  This article originally appeared on her website Grace Over Pain.