Does God’s Mercy Ever Run Out?
Written by Nancie Carmichael
Last week it seemed the need for prayer was unending and urgent. A family we know lost their young father. Several people we know, and love are struggling with pain and dire diagnoses. One of my beloved siblings has not long to live. My prayer list continues to grow as the reality of our human fragility becomes personal.
At times like this, we ask God for mercy; for healing, even when answers do not seem to come. I wonder, how can God possibly hear and answer so many who are needing His mercy? Does His mercy and grace ever run out? It would seem so.
Jeremiah wrote about the destruction of Jerusalem; of the loss of the innocent and what used to be a beautiful city. Jeremiah tried to make sense of the senseless, and cried out at the pain of his people, “Who can heal you? How shall I console you?”
All of us—if we live long enough—will experience destruction of some kind. How do we respond? We grieve. We become angry, and despair. We long for the “good old days” when life was good and predictable, and when people were united. We too can wonder, who can heal you, dear daughter, dear son? Dear spouse? Dear brother, dear friend?
Grieving is appropriate. Hard times require honesty and hard questions. But Jeremiah reminds us (after his honest venting!) that there are times to sit quietly, to wait for him. Here is our hope: “I called on Your Name, O Lord, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice. Do not hide your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help. You drew near on the day I called on You and said, Do not fear.” (Lamentations 3:55-59) In that waiting, Jeremiah remembered: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness!”
One morning last week when the burdens seemed too heavy, I grabbed my Bible and drove to a little spot where I ordered coffee and sat with my Bible. My reading in 2 Corinthians, chapters three and four and in Lamentations reminded me that His grace is indeed sufficient. His mercies are new every morning. His mercy and grace are endless. Amazing grace…that never runs out!
Behind me, I overheard two women at a table and realized they were studying scripture. Before I left the café, I stopped at their table. “I love hearing women of the Word,” I smiled at them. We introduced ourselves and before long, we prayed together.
I went home with a lighter step. Truly, as we bear one another’s burdens, they are lifted. And how good to belong to Him who calls to us: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
