Sometimes the mess I’m in seems too big to ever get out of. It’s overwhelming and I don’t know where to even start. Defeat sets in and before I know it, one day melts into the next and I don’t know if I even care anymore. I remember feeling that way when I hit what would finally be known as the ‘rock bottom’ in my depression.
I had been home schooling my kindergartener. My grade as a teacher? A big fat F every single day. I mean, I couldn’t even get him to remember the letters in his name. (Many years later I would learn that he had a learning disability) My three year old was pretty sure he already knew more than I did. (Not much has changed) I vividly remember him telling me from his car seat one morning, “Mom, you don’t know everything.” I responded, “Who told you that?” and cried for rest of the day. If I couldn’t manage to convince a three year old that I knew more than him, I was screwed.
Sometimes we don’t want mercy. Sometimes we just want to be put out of our misery.
During the ‘rock bottom’ phase I fantasized about being divorced. My marriage couldn’t possibly last much longer and I was starting to look forward to it. Having the boys every other weekend sounded like a trip to the spa. Of course, I knew I would need to get a job and would probably be homeless, but I didn’t care. Living in my mess had become more of a burden than I wanted to bear.
Have you been there? Do you know someone who’s there right now?
Friend, if you were sitting across from me at my kitchen table where my fingers are typing this right now, I’d look straight into your eyes and tell you this:
The fact that you were allowed to open your eyes and take a breath this morning is proof enough that it’s not over for you. I don’t care if you’re face down flat on the floor, mercy is keeping you from falling through the floor. It is because of the Lord’s great love for you that you haven’t been consumed by your mess.
Mercy says, “I see your mess. I know how you got there and I love you too much to leave you there. Please let me help you clean it up.”
Mercy arrests us in our mess, ushers in peace, and empowers us to change. Mercy saves us. One step at a time.
Trust me, you didn’t make your mess overnight. If I were to take a good guess, you’re probably not totally responsible for the mess you’re in. I know because it’s part of my story too. Regardless of who did what, we are responsible for the choices from here on out. We are not victims. We are more than conquerors. We are entrusted with the next generation. Mercy matters more than ever.
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.-Ephesians 2:1-6 The Message
Allow his immense mercy to pick you up off the floor, out of your mess and embrace you with his incredible love. Tell Him that you need His mercy and allow Him to respond.
Thanks for joining me here. I’m asking the Lord to remind you of the ways he’s been merciful to you this weekend. See you Monday.
His mercies are new every morning and He gives good things. He gives Peanut Butter and Jelly Grace.