Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

by Evangelynn

We’ve all had those sleepless nights – those restless days – and countless times of hurt and disappointment.
We’ve all had those times of frustration and irritation – those times when we want to give up, run away, and just cry.
We’ve all had those times when we either want to avoid everyone or lash out at everyone – those times when we’ve been so hurt by people that we want to shut ourselves out from the world.

But when was the last time we had that time when we showed mercy? When was the last time we sat down and, instead of ponder on what people should or should not have done to us, think about what we should or should not have done to God?

God has wrecked me these past couple days over one song and two verses.
The verses are:

James 2: 13b – Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Micah 7:18 – Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but DELIGHT TO SHOW MERCY.

And the song is called “Mercy” by Amanda Cook.

The lyrics say: “You delight in showing mercy. And mercy triumphs over judgment.”

It was on my heart, but I didn’t know what it meant to me.
God spoke. I’m convicted.
So here’s the blurb:

How many times have we failed and disappointed God? How many times have we made promises to God that we never kept? How many times have we fallen into sin and hurt God? And how many times has God shown us mercy?
I think I can answer for all of us and say: countless times.
Now. How many times have people failed and disappointed us? How many times have people made promises to us that they never kept? How many times have people messed up and hurt us?
Answer: Countless times, right? But here’s where is goes down.
How many times have we shown them mercy?
Let’s just say, not very many times.

So hold up. People hurt us and we don’t think they deserve our mercy but instead, we show judgment. Yet when we hurt God, we still expect God to show us mercy and not to show judgment? How is that supposed to work?

We are all pretty sinful. And by that I mean really sinful. We have all messed up and made mistakes. All we’ve ever deserved is judgment upon judgment. But, instead, God has shown us grace upon grace. He has shown us mercy upon mercy upon…well… MERCY. But we always seem to do the exact opposite when the fingers are pointed at us. We always seem to show more judgment than grace – more anger than mercy. And then we turn the tables back around and beg God for mercy on our own lives.

God delights in showing us mercy because mercy triumphs over judgment. He delights in forgiveness, mercy, and love. However, because of that, he expects us to give the same to others. He expects us to show forgiveness, mercy, and love to others because He has shown us just that. Who are we to hold back mercy from people if God never holds back mercy from us?

Yes, hurt and disappointment are real. Anger and resentment are pretty real too. And because of that, we will never be able to delight in showing mercy on our own. In midst of tears and hurt, it most often seems completely impossible. But with God, we will be able to. Because of God, we have to. Through the mercy and forgiveness He has shown us despite our reckless ways, we will find the strength and encouragement we need to show mercy and forgiveness to others despite the situations.

We love because He first loved us.
And we need to show mercy because He first showed mercy to us.
Show mercy because of the mercy shown.

To close, as I was writing this very post, I took a break to check Instagram and when I opened it up, I saw this verse posted “1s” ago: “The Lord is MERCIFUL and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in MERCY.” –  Psalms 103: 8

The Lord abounds in gracious mercy. He delights to show us mercy because mercy triumphs OVER judgment. So may we be abounding in grace and mercy. May we find delight in showing mercy. All so because GOD abounds in grace and mercy and finds delight in showing US mercy. So fight your battles with grace and love. And conquer you wars with mercy, not judgment. Because mercy triumphs over judgment.