I’m a word nerd.
By that, I don’t mean that I have an extensive vocabulary, because I don’t, nor do I mean that I sit around and read the dictionary. No, I consider myself a word nerd, because I love to get to the deepest understanding of a word. I set out to find a real and raw definition. I want to know how I can sum up the entirety of a word in a simple way, in the best way.
The word mercy was no exception.
For quite some time, I struggled to define mercy without rattling off something extremely complex. Because mercy has many facets. It is something we can have, but it’s also something that is lived out. Sometimes when we talk about mercy, we are talking about forgiveness. Other times, when we say mercy, we’re talking about things people do to show compassion, deeds that embody charity.
For such a little word, mercy’s got a lot going on. Here’s the definition I’ve finally arrived at:
mercy: to enter into suffering with love
If I see someone in need, lacking food or water, and take the time to enter into that moment, to give them what I have – that’s mercy. Their hunger and thirst is now satisfaction and nourishment. They have received life. If someone has done something wrong or made a mistake, and they have regret and guilt, and I hear their sadness, their apology, and offer pardon – that’s mercy. Their remorse and shame is transformed into restoration and peace. Things are made new and there is hope.
What a beautiful form of love, to give of what we have, to bring someone from a place of sorrow to a place of joy!
God has done this for us, entered into our despair and given us the gift of Himself. Ever since brokenness entered the world, mercy has been our cry. Over and over again, God hears us and comes to our aid. He enters into our suffering with love, a love that brings the fullness of life and freedom. He sent us His Son, He sends us His Spirit.
The cry of God’s heart is one of mercy, “I will give you my love; I will give you Myself.”
This is the cry of our hearts. This is our deepest longing, our deepest prayer. A cry for mercy.
“God come enter into my suffering and be present to me. Bring your love to me in this moment. Come take this sin that is weighing me down, this burden that drains me of life, this relationship that is dying, this grief that I cannot carry, these things that crush me, and bind me, and keep me from joy and peace. God come and claim victory over them. I cannot do it, but your saving love can. Come have mercy on me.”
This is the cry of our souls, that we would receive the mercy of God, that the Lord would enter into our suffering with love.
May this cry find a voice in our hearts and on our lips – Lord, have mercy.