Pick-and-Choose Mercies
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentation 3: 21 – 24.
New mercies every morning? Who wouldn’t be glad about that? But I think we too often glean false comfort from this verse. This verse doesn’t promise that everything will go as we think it should or that God will take away all things bad in our lives. God’s mercy doesn’t always look the same as He works in and blesses our lives.
Sometimes His mercies give hope, favor, and courage in desperate situations. Sometimes they give strength to the weary, make ways through the impossible, and soothe broken hearts. And we are so thankful when He does!
But sometimes His mercies call us out and expose our hearts that need transforming. God is merciful when He reminds us of bitterness we have tucked away where we think no one can see. God is merciful when He withholds lesser loves so that He can be our First Love. He is merciful when He interrupts the plans we have so carefully made so that we will follow Him with greater devotion. He is merciful when He shakes us up so that we come to rely on Him, our only true and solid foundation.
Lord, open our eyes to see Your mercies new every morning. You are faithful to offer exactly what we need for each day. May we trust You for what You provide. Remind us each day of Your steadfast love and Your great faithfulness that never run out. And may we not only be awed by You but we ask that You transform our hearts. May we not think we can pick-and-choose which mercies You choose to give us, but gratefully trust the mercies You have specifically designed for each one of us. And may this fill us with the confident hope that reassures and anchors our souls.
“Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.” (Runyan)
