Have Mercy!

Here is the South, one of the many exclamations we use when something surprises or overwhelms us is “Have mercy” or “Lord, have mercy!” We often say it almost facetiously, like Fred Sanford on the 70s sitcom, Sanford and Son, melodramatically crying out with his hand over his heart, “This is the big one! I’m coming, Elizabeth!”

The truth, however, is we have all needed mercy. Mercy from God. Mercy from others. Each of us has fallen short. Some of us have messed up so badly that we would have lost everything had it not been for the mercy of God and of those who love us.

What does mercy look like? I did a search of every time the word mercy appears in Scripture. Here are the most common themes where people asked God for mercy:

Forgiveness for sin and disobedience.

Healing for those who are sick and suffering.

Sparing the life of a loved one.

Deliverance from enemies.

So much of our well-being depends on God’s mercy. And here’s the thing… God commands us to offer that same mercy to others.

Micah 6:8 spells it out for us: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (NIV).

Our culture here in America continually conditions us to hate, to punish, and to tear others down. Social media isolates us into siloed echo chambers that make an enemy of anyone with a different viewpoint, skin color, or cultural heritage. It depersonalizes those who are different than us, leading us to forget they are also made in God’s image and need the same mercy we have received.

That polarization often spills into our immediate relationships, as well, leading us to become vengeful, unforgiving, and prideful. Just as our well-being rests upon God’s mercy, no relationship can be healthy and whole without exercising mercy when needed.

Moreover, America will never heal without people of all backgrounds learning how to walk in mercy (and for that matter, justice and humility).

So, what do we do? Look for opportunities to show mercy. It’s like a muscle; it get stronger with exercise. With practice, it becomes natural. As it becomes part of our lifestyle, we better reflect Christ to those around us. Furthermore, we become an agent of God’s healing that will help change our world for the better.