When R.H.Schuller was growing up, drought ravaged their family farm. They prayed for rain that never came. His Dad, who normally harvested 100 wagon loads of corn, reaped only half a wagon full. Schuller says, “I’ll never forget it. His calloused hands holding ours as he looked up and prayed, ‘Thank you Lord, I’ve lost nothing. I’ve regained all the seed I planted in spring.’ While other farmers were saying, ‘We lost 90 or 100 loads,’ my father told me, ‘Never count the might-have-beens or you will be defeated. Never look at what you have lost, only look at what you have left.’ ” 1

Many of you have lost much financially this year.  I challenge you to remove your focus from what you’ve lost –so you will not be defeated– and focus on every incredible good that you still have in life, be it health, a home, family, friends, past victories, dreams for the future. Be undefeated!  Keep a grateful focus on what you still have!

1 word4U2day

I once heard a report on the news about a study done with people over 100 years of age.  They were expecting to discover a common health link, something those seniors did or did not eat, or some type of exercise routine.  Much to the astonishment of those doing the study, there did not appear to be any common denominators in health habits.  Obviously, health habits will affect the quality of one’s physical life, especially as you get older. However, the sole common denominator in these seniors who lived to be over 100 years of age was how they dealt with crises or tragedies;  they had a commitment to move forward or move past the tragedy and continue to find enjoyment in life. In their view, it was worth living just to be alive, regardless of the events they experienced.

A perspective that sees value solely in being alive will benefit one’s daily life as well.

Though it wasn’t discussed in the part of the report I heard, I would imagine that people who outlived their peers due to a commitment to move beyond tragedy had also lived their daily lives with the same perspective- ”This too shall pass,”  “Life goes on…,” or whatever applicable saying you have heard.  If one has a view to be able to enjoy life just because he or she is still alive, regardless of even facing tragedies, imagine how much less that type of person stresses over the typical daily struggles.  During those times in life when daily struggles start coming at you from every side all at the same time – with the children, on the job, with finances, in one’s marriage or other close relationships – many of us become faint of heart (discouraged) and question the quality of our lives.

Learning from these long – living seniors, it would be healthy for each of us to develop a new mindset that values solely being alive.

Here are a few thoughts I had.  I’m sure you can add some of your own.  Feel free to use the comment box on my site to do so.

1. Build a daily awareness of what is good around you.  Greatly appreciate the little things.  Not to use too many clichés in this post, but this is a “stop and smell the roses” scenario. I  have over 30 rose bushes in my yard.  I often stay too busy to enjoy them as I should.  On particularly stressful days, I need to stop the rushing, stressing, and bring some roses inside just to enjoy that part of life.  A while back, I encouraged some loved ones going through a disheartening time that was out of their control to have their daily cup of coffee or tea in the fine china; enjoy what is right there to enjoy.  If the kids have been stressing you, stop and do something you know that you enjoy doing with them—just to enjoy them while they are still children.  Daily find the value in just being alive.

2. Don’t “snowball” in your thinking  by thinking of troubles that will need to be addressed on another day. Scripture says each day has enough trouble of its own, so don’t stress now over what you aren’t yet dealing with.

3. Eliminate the habit of imagining the worst – case scenarios which usually never happen.  There is a popular saying of Mark Twain that was along the lines of, “I’ve experienced some terrible things in my life, and some of them actually happened.”  Do not allow yourself to “experience” negative that has not even happened.

4. Focus on the future.  Realize, with most crises, this too will pass.  Or, in the case of a death or something else permanent, commit to enjoying other aspects of life that still exist other than that relationship—even start new friendships.  Envision better days.  I’ve read of many authors who had lost everything-their wealth, their careers, their families, their homes and cars-and, and by envisioning and believing in life restoration, moved past the tragedies by believing better days would return; they continued to believe it until they saw restoration come to their lives.

Whether or not you want to live past 100, learn to manage the daily crises as well as major life ones with a view that moves beyond the hardship and believes there is value solely in being alive.

I once heard a report on the news about a study done with people over 100 years of age. They were expecting to discover a common health link, something those seniors did or did not eat, or some type of exercise routine. Much to the astonishment of those doing the study, there did not appear to be any common denominators in health habits. Obviously, health habits will affect the quality of one’s physical life, especially as you get older. However, the sole common denominator in these seniors who lived to be over 100 years of age was how they dealt with crises or tragedies; they had a commitment to move forward or move past the tragedy and continue to find enjoyment in life. In their view, it was worth living just to be alive, regardless of the events they experienced.

A perspective that sees value solely in being alive will benefit one’s daily life as well.

Though it wasn’t discussed in the part of the report I heard, I would imagine that people who outlived their peers due to a commitment to move beyond tragedy had also lived their daily lives with the same perspective-”This too shall pass,” “Life goes on…,” or whatever applicable saying you have heard. If one has a view to be able to enjoy life just because he or she is still alive, regardless of even facing tragedies, imagine how much less that type of person stresses over the typical daily struggles. During those times in life when daily struggles start coming at you from every side all at the same time-with the children, on the job, with finances, in one’s marriage or other close relationships-many of us become faint of heart (discouraged) and question the quality of our lives.

Learning from these long-living seniors, it would be healthy for each of us to develop a new mindset that values just being alive.

Here are a few thoughts I had. I’m sure you can add some of your own. Feel free to use the comment box below to do so.

1. Build a daily awareness of what is good around you. Greatly appreciate the little things. Not to use too many clichés in this post, but this is a “stop and smell the roses” scenario. I have over 30 rose bushes in my yard. I often stay too busy to enjoy them as I should. On particularly stressful days, I need to stop the rushing, stressing, and bring some roses inside just to enjoy that part of life. A while back, I encouraged some loved ones going through a disheartening time that was out of their control to have their daily cup of coffee or tea in the fine china; enjoy what is right there to enjoy. If the kids have been stressing you, stop and do something you know that you enjoy doing with them-just to enjoy them while they are still children. Daily find the value in just being alive.

2. Don’t “snowball” in your thinking–thinking of troubles that will need to be addressed on another day. Scripture says each day has enough trouble of its own, so don’t stress now over what you aren’t yet dealing with.

3. Eliminate the habit of imagining the worst-case scenarios which usually never happen.  There is a popular saying of Mark Twain that was along the lines of, “I’ve experienced some terrible things in my life, and some of them actually happened.”  Do not allow yourself to “experience” negative that has not even happened.

4. Focus on the future. Realize, with most crises, this too will pass. Or, in the case of a death or something else permanent, commit to enjoying other aspects of life that still exist other than that relationship-even start new friendships. Envision better days. I’ve read of many authors who had lost everything-their wealth, their careers, their families, their homes and cars-and, and by envisioning and believing in life restoration, moved past the tragedies by believing better days would return; they continued to believe it until they saw restoration come to their lives.

Whether or not you want to live past 100, learn to manage the daily crises as well as major life ones with a view that moves beyond the hardship and believes there is value solely in being alive.

I’m going to approach the subject of fear in different way here than I normally would. We’re going to look at a circumstance described in history and outline points that you can apply to the fearful circumstance you are presently facing or may face in the future. The reference is out of Mt.14:26-32, and whether or not you are a believer in the historical accuracy of this account, its principles are still applicable.

Here is the description in the Amplified translation. [I prefer the Amplified for study because it gives more detail as to the meaning of the original Greek words; most translations limit the text to a “word for word” translation when many languages -- such as Greek, Hebrew, Arabic -- have much broader concepts included in their individual words.]

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, “It is a ghost!” And they screamed out with fright. But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid! And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus. But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me from death! Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Let’s apply this situation point for point to our own fearful situations, learning from both the positive and negative responses in the story.

1. Notice Jesus’ response to the men’s fear — He “instantly spoke” when they cried out in terror, vv.26,27. Jesus, Father God’s revelation of Himself and His character to us, shows an immediate, interactive response to a cry of fear to Him.

2. Jesus told them (a) not to be afraid and (b) to be courageous, but He follows these directives with specific reason for responding fearlessly and courageously to a fearful situation.

3. The reason for having a fearless response is “I AM” was with them. This term does not hold meaning for most people now but it held clear meaning to those Jewish men. It was the name Father God spoke to Moses when He told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand the Jews be released from slavery. Moses said, “Who shall I say is sending me?” God responded, “I AM.” This phrase in the Hebrew, as well as the Greek refers to the self-existent One, the One who exists in and of Himself, is all sufficient, in need of nothing, will always be what He will be and what He is, and hence, is faithful and true to His character and nature, and unchangeable and true to His Word. (1-footnote below)

4. Even though in a boat in the midst of a storm, fearing for their lives, Peter’s immediate response to I AM being with him was (a) immediate courage and fearlessness, v.28, and (b) his success at participating in a miraculous act, v.29. Ponder the full extent of the change in (a) Peter’s emotions and (b) his reactions when Peter focused on the presence of I AM being with him instead of on his fearful situation.

5. Now notice what took place at the end of the story when Peter changed his focus to (a) the surrounding fearful situation and (b) his personal fears; Peter moved back out of the supernatural as soon as his focus was off of I AM and on his fearful surroundings and his feelings, v.30.

6. Jesus again reveals the heart of Father God to us, even in our failures. I point this out because so many people live with the erroneous feelings that God is constantly condemning them for each failure. Jesus did (a) identify Peter’s failure, reminding him that he should not have doubted the power/results of I AM with him, v.31, but (b) Jesus also picked Peter back up after his failure and restored him to safety, vv.31,32. Jesus did not abandon Peter in his failure or illustrate any loss of love.

Where is your focus in your present fearful situation?

If your focus is on your feelings of fear or the cause of those feelings, the feelings will control your responses in a negative way. If you change your focus to a source of true help, such as I AM, the self-sufficient and all sufficient One who is present with you and true to His character and Word, you can respond with courage and productive action, even in an overwhelmingly fearful situation.

1. John Wesley’s Notes on the Old and New Testaments for Exodus 3:14

Do you feel that you effectively handle the loss of a loved one?

During a time of loss and grieving, what you choose to focus on will determine how effectively you transition to life without that person. I once read of a study on people who lived to be over 100. The only common factor discovered in that particular study was their ability to go on after tragedy and still find life worth living. Since stress and negative thoughts are physically damaging as well as emotionally, it is easy to see how this would be true. There is no doubt that times of loss involve grieving over the separation. There are a variety of psychological stages one goes through during grief. However, the choice of your focus drastically affects the effectiveness of your transition.

Choosing to focus on the aspects of that person which brought joy to your life is important to your well-being.

Instead of focusing on the traumatic circumstances which took place in the physical realm that caused you to lose that person, choose to live out your life rejoicing in the positive input that person had into your life. Meditate on the various joys that person brought to you. Rejoice that your life was fuller because of those joys. Rejoice that you are a better person because of those experiences.

The next step in effectively transitioning through a time of loss is realizing the source of those joys you experienced.

This week was one of high stress for our family as I almost lost my father to 3 severe intestinal bugs that he contracted while visiting the sick in hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes the week before Thanksgiving. Visiting the sick and elderly has always been a major focus of my father’s life. I was reminded of an experience from years back, the first time that I almost lost my father to an illness. I was grieving at the possibility of the loss. My father’s love for people and God has always been a source of inspiration to my life. I was not able to feel any peace until God spoke a concept very clearly to my heart. He said, “Everything good that you love about your father came from Me. Those things are in Me and I am always with you.”

As you focus on the aspect that the joys you experienced in the person you lost actually have their source in God, and He is always with you, you realize in a deeper, more complete way that those joys can continue in your life.

God has forever made clear His commitment to be with you. In the Old Testament, He says not to be discouraged or afraid because He goes before you, is with you, and will never leave you or forsake you. (Deut. 31:8)

Again in the New Testament, this is reiterated:

Surely I am will you always, even to the very of the age. Matt. 28:20
I will never leave you and never forsake you. Heb. 13:5

In the Greek, the tense of the word “never” in Hebrews 13 is actually never x 7 (never times 7), stressing the complete reality of God’s presence with you.

Now let’s focus on a moment on God’s goodness. James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from your Heavenly Father. Every good that your loved one poured into your life, every joy that was imparted, had its source in the personality and person of Father God. Like God impressed on me in my time of trial, “Every good thing that you love about the person exists in Me, came from Me, and I am always with you!”

During your time of loss, deal effectively with your time of transition.

Meditate on the joys that your loved one brought to you and then stay focused on that fact that Father God is the source of those joys. He cannot die, so His promise to always be with you, continuing to pour those joys into you, is a lasting one that you can count on for the rest of your life.

Table of contents for Speaking Health and Restoration into Existence

1. Speaking Health and Restoration into Existence
2. Visualize & Speak Health and Restoration into Existence

Some simple daily exercises for health and restoration are beneficial in the realization of your goals.

After talking with a loved one who was going through a breakdown of the family structure, finances, and emotional state, I began to visualize seeing him as he desires his life to be–happy, healthy, trim, and successful. When one’s dreams for his or her life have come crashing down around them, it is rather difficult, and seemingly absurd to visualize one’s self and life in a state of near perfection. However, in recent years I have been studying people in both the secular world and religious world who have used the principle of faith to bring restoration after every aspect of their lives had been completely destroyed, and all of them say, “You must see where you want to be in your mind; you must visualize it for it to come to pass.” As a main key to being successful is learning how others achieved it, the concepts of visualizing and speaking restoration into existence should be taken hold of by anyone in need of life restoration.

Let’s look at two daily exercises to evoke health and life restoration.

1. The first exercise was something that came out of the discussion with the loved one in crisis. At his job, each of the staff, in their own office area, had put up a collage of pictures about his or her childhood. My loved one had found some comfort by looking at the childhood pictures, remembering life being happy and healthy back then. I realized that this would be an effective way to help visualize restoration in the midst of collapsed, seemingly hopeless circumstances. For this exercise, find several pictures if possible, and put them where you must look at them more than once a day. Look at those pictures so that you can focus on happiness and health as a reality for you; it was–you have been there. Once your mind and emotions are able to re-grasp some of those thoughts and feelings that you experienced of health and happiness, then use those pictures to then visualize yourself now being happy and healthy. Visualize yourself, as an individual, being happy and healthy first. Then, if you have a family you are living with now, proceed to also visualize your entire family you live with now being happy and healthy–physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

2. The second exercise is related to what we discussed in the recent post of Healing Words. I want you to speak out loud, “I am happy and healthy. My family is happy and healthy. I have restoration physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.” Yes, it will most likely be difficult to say because it isn’t visual reality now, but “hope that is seen is not hope at all.” Remember, speaking words of healing and restoration have been scientifically proven to be necessary, as well as been proven by the countless thousands whose lives have come back from a state of devastation to restoration. You can read Yomi Akinpelu’s quote about your words affect on the nerves of your entire body in this post, Healing Words Part 1.

I trust these 2 simple daily restoration exercises will bless your life and provide forward momentum in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances. Feel free to use the link at the beginning of the article or this one here to go back and read the related post, “Speaking Health and Restoration into Existence.”

How you deal with crises or tragedies affect the length of your life as well as the daily quality.

I once heard a report on the news about a study done with people over 100 years of age. They were expecting to discover a common health link, something those seniors did or did not eat, or some type of exercise routine. Much to the astonishment of those doing the study, there did not appear to be any common denominators in health habits. Obviously, health habits will affect the quality of one’s physical life, especially as you get older. However, the sole common denominator in these seniors who lived to be over 100 years of age was how they dealt with crises or tragedies; they had a commitment to move forward or move past the tragedy and continue to find enjoyment in life. In their view, it was worth living just to be alive, regardless of the events they experienced.

A perspective that sees value solely in being alive will benefit one’s daily life as well.

Though it wasn’t discussed in the part of the report I heard, I would imagine that people who outlived their peers due to a commitment to move beyond tragedy had also lived their daily lives with the same perspective-”This too shall pass,” “Life goes on…,” or whatever applicable saying you have heard. If one has a view to be able to enjoy life just because he or she is still alive, regardless of even facing tragedies, imagine how much less that type of person stresses over the typical daily struggles. During those times in life when daily struggles start coming at you from every side all at the same time-with the children, on the job, with finances, in one’s marriage or other close relationships-many of us become faint of heart (discouraged) and question the quality of our lives.

Learning from these long-living seniors, it would be healthy for each of us to develop a new mindset that values just being alive.

Here are a few thoughts I had. I’m sure you can add some of your own. Feel free to use the comment box below to do so.

1. Build a daily awareness of what is good around you. Greatly appreciate the little things. Not to use too many clichés in this post, but this is a “stop and smell the roses” scenario. I have over 30 rose bushes in my yard. I often stay too busy to enjoy them as I should. On particularly stressful days, I need to stop the rushing, stressing, and bring some roses inside just to enjoy that part of life. A while back, I encouraged some loved ones going through a disheartening time that was out of their control to have their daily cup of coffee or tea in the fine china; enjoy what is right there to enjoy. If the kids have been stressing you, stop and do something you know that you enjoy doing with them-just to enjoy them while they are still children. Daily find the value in just being alive.

2. Don’t “snowball” in your thinking–thinking of troubles that will need to be addressed on another day. Scripture says each day has enough trouble of its own, so don’t stress now over what you aren’t yet dealing with.

3. Eliminate the habit of imagining the worst-case scenarios which usually never happen.  There is a popular saying of Mark Twain that was along the lines of, “I’ve experienced some terrible things in my life, and some of them actually happened.”  Do not allow yourself to “experience” negative that has not even happened.

4. Focus on the future. Realize, with most crises, this too will pass. Or, in the case of a death or something else permanent, commit to enjoying other aspects of life that still exist other than that relationship-even start new friendships. Envision better days. I’ve read of many authors who had lost everything-their wealth, their careers, their families, their homes and cars-and, and by envisioning and believing in life restoration, moved past the tragedies by believing better days would return; they continued to believe it until they saw restoration come to their lives.

Whether or not you want to live past 100, learn to manage the daily crises as well as major life ones with a view that moves beyond the hardship and believes there is value solely in being alive.

In most realms of religion, there seems to be a prevalent concept that poverty makes a person more pious.

The added deduction from this concept is that God sends poverty on His people to teach them or purify them. There are several possible reasons for the development of this line of thought. First, difficulty does often cause a person to reach out to God, to someone greater than himself, resulting in character growth. Hence, people assume God sent it. Scripture actually says that God works to bring good out of evil done to us (Gen. 50:20; Deut. 23:5; Rom. 8:28). A second possible reason for the development of this poverty concept is the misquoting of the Scripture about money. Scripture actually says that the “love” of money leads to all kinds of evil, not wealth itself.

God expresses that poverty is destructive to people, a trait contrary to God’s nature.

Though more examples could be given, these two make it clear that poverty is not a type of “learning tool” sent by God. God says,

• Poverty is the ruin of the poor (NIV). [Another translation-] The destruction of the poor is their poverty (NKJV Pr. 10:15).
• [The context of this quote is speaking about laziness...] and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man making you helpless (AMP).

In contrast to the idea of poverty being from God, the traits of ruin, destruction, and other harm are listed in Scripture as having their origin in satan. Pay particular attention to Jesus’ description of the contrasting life God gives.

• The thief [referring to the devil] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus speaking] have come that you may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance till it overflows (AMP Jn. 10:10).
• Be vigilant and cautious at all times, for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour (AMP 1 Pet. 5:8).

God’s description of His love and concern for your life is in complete opposition to the concept of bringing poverty with its destruction, ruin, and helplessness into your life.

In addition to the above quote in which Jesus says that His purpose in coming to earth and bringing our spiritual restoration was to enable us to live and enjoy an overflowing life –something poverty does not bring– look carefully at this quote from 1 Pet. 5:7. Since financial troubles are the cause of much anxiety, not only among the poor, but among those of varying economic status, financial trouble even still being the main cause of divorce in the U.S., it is important to mention that God’s statement in 5:7 to bring your anxieties to Him out of His deep love, concern, and care for you immediately precedes in Scripture the verse quoted earlier in this post about the devil trying to destroy us.

• Cast the whole of your care-all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concern, once and for all-on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and watchfully (1 Pet. 5:7).

Let me reiterate for clarity. In 1 Pet. 5:7, God explains His deep care for your life and encourages you to come to Him with all your anxieties and concerns. In 5:8, the very next verse, He warns you against the works of satan or the devil to destroy your life. If God said that poverty is destructive (Prov. 10:15), and that the devil brings the harmful events which can destroy you (1 Pet. 5:8, Jn. 10:10), we cannot honestly continue to attribute poverty to God. It also would be absurd for God to tell you to come to Him with all the cares of your life because He is watchfully caring for you if He was, at the same time, the cause of all your grief!

A portrait of lives that are blessed in the physical realm as well as in the spiritual is what God describes for those who seek Him.

In one of the main passages describing God’s covenant with His people, He says that those who “fully obey” Him will be blessed in city, in the country, coming in, going out, in their families, investments, businesses, and everything they put their hands to (Deut. 28:1-13). God intends for every facet of life to be in a state of blessing for the person who diligently lives for Him. The Hebrew term for “fully obey” is not quite translated well. It is actually the word, shama`, twice in the oiginal language. Shama` means “to hear intelligently for attentive obedience (1).” If I were to oversimplify this quote, it is as if God is saying, “For those of you who “really listen to me for the purpose of obeying (shama`), and I mean, actually follow through with my teachings (shama`), all these blessings will flood your life.”

Some people may say that covenant of God only applied to the Jews living at that time in history under Mosaic law, but in 2 Cor. 1:20, it says to us, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” God’s promises do not expire. They are still “Yes” for you! When a person attentively listens to God and lives accordingly, his life can be under the protection of God from the destroying work of satan. Rom. 8:2 says that the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death; all the harmful elements of life brought about by the evil in this world, God desires to free us from. Similarly, in Gal. 3:13, it says that Christ Jesus redeemed us from the curse through His work of salvation.

When you are faced with poverty or any other destructive force, go to God with your anxieties because He does watchfully and affectionately care for you! The more you live under His guidance, the more areas of your life will be freed from the effects of evil in this world and begin to respond to God’s promise of blessing. Don’t allow a false concept of God being the source of destruction in your life to keep you from the One who honestly desires you to live and enjoy life in a level of overflowing abundance.

(1) Hebrew definition from Strong’s Dictionary of Old Testament Words.

While in a time of prayer and meditation this morning, some thoughts came to mind about God’s mercy. Are we in His mercy or at His mercy?

Many of us have been raised to feel that we are “at” God’s mercy, that God is an uncompassionate authority figure who rules over our lives at a distance, yet He is unmoved by the severity of our situations and we are forced to feel grateful if He acts in our behalf. Such feelings may be due to inadequate religious teaching from childhood or a parent or other authority figure that misused their authority. Feelings of being “at” God’s mercy may even stem from being raised in poverty, which often causes one to feel that you are always at the mercy of others’ whims and unable to help yourself.

As I began to study the topic of God’s mercy this evening, I discovered that God’s mercy is clearly governed by His overwhelming love and concern for us.

The first passages I came across were of people in crises who were writing about God’s response to their cries for help. Take a look at these people’s view of God’s merciful responses:

In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” Yet You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help. Ps. 31:22

I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Ps 116:1

In all their distress, He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Is. 63:9

Notice some of their key points about God’s mercy during their crises.

1. His mercy is great or vast.
2. In a moment of terror, when the person thought he was abandoned, God heard his cry and helped him.
3. His love and mercy caused God to actually empathize and feel the distress of the person in the situation. He then responded in a nurturing way.

In these next quotes, the writers’ express God’s mercy toward someone repentant of evil.

But in Your great mercy You did not put an end to them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God. Neh. 9:31

Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Is. 55:7

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Mic. 7:18

1. The first writer expresses that, in his experience, he has seen that God’s mercy caused Him not to punish or abandon people though undeserving of His mercy.
2. The second writer says one can have confidence that God will indeed have mercy upon the repentant, because He “freely” pardons. In other words, God is generous with His mercy, not stingy.
3. The last writer says that no one compares with God due to His level of delighting in showing mercy. All these passages reinforce the concept that we are not “at” God’s mercy, or as the phrase implies, at the mercy of an uncompassionate ruling authority.

Another incredible illustration of the mercy of God comes from a prophecy about the birth of John the Baptist.

Luke 1:76-78 says that John would be a prophet to prepare the way before Jesus to “give God’s people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God. The very act of God coming in human flesh to complete our salvation was due to the “tender mercy” of God, not the haphazard good deed of an unkind, unjust judge of mankind.

In Scripture, we are told to seek wisdom. James describes the wisdom of heaven or of God with mercy being a part of His wisdom.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (Jms. 3:17).” First of all, when we are “at” the mercy of someone, they are not the type of person which one would describe as wise, much less embodying all of the loving, gracious attributes described here. Even notice that God’s mercy is described as being full of good results.

The picture should be getting clear now, that we live “in” the mercy of God, not “at” His mercy. A closer look at the root words used for “mercy” complete our portrait of the mercy of God.

In the James passage, the word for mercy in the Greek is eleos, the literal meaning of which is active compassion. Active compassion would never describe someone who manipulates people “at their mercy.” The other Greek word I came across for mercy had the same root meaning, that of active compassion.

The Hebrew words for mercy are even more beautifully descriptive of the mercy of God that we live in. Psalm 103:17 states, “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that revere him.” The Hebrew word for mercy in this quote is Checed, the full meaning of which includes: kindness, beauty, favor, good deeds, and loving-kindness. A different Hebrew word for mercy, Racham, is used in the passage from Nehemiah earlier in this article. It’s root meaning is just as lovely and complete: compassion, tender love, great and tender mercy, an extension of the womb-as in the cherishing of the fetus.

These few passages from just a handful of writers make it beautifully clear that not only do we live “in” the mercy of God, but God’s mercy is so phenomenally wonderful and beautiful that it is something no one should ever desire to live without.

Let’s deal with your life at the present moment. You may just have a variety of issues you need to deal with, or you may be in a major crisis. Or, maybe you’re suffering from some serious mistakes and feeling repentant. God’s mercy, His mercy that is everlasting, actively compassionate, kind, tender, and loving is available for you today, no matter what your need. I’m going to end this post with one of my favorite passages regarding God’s mercy.

For we do not have a High Priest [referring to Jesus] who is unable to sympathize and have a fellow feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation…Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace–the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners; that we may receive mercy for our failures and find grace to help in good time for every need-appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it. Heb. 4:15,16 (Amplified)

Definitions are from Strong’s Dictionary of OT Words and Strong’s Dictionary of NT Words.

This is the fifth article in our series in answer to Readers’ Questions.

First, since God is the source of love, focus on demonstrating His characteristics to those in crisis.

For some of us this will be easier than others, depending on your knowledge of God’s character. If you grew up in a religious culture of misinformation that portrayed God as unforgiving, unkind, basically inhumane, you may not have as much knowledge in that area to draw from. You may want to read through or listen to some of my previous posts on that topic, such as, “Healing by an Understanding of God’s Love” and “A Love that Isn’t Earned.” God describes Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, having mercy (undeserved favor) that is everlasting, forgiving, patient, comforting, encouraging, protective; this is just a partial list. These characteristics of God are all traits that each of us need in our lives. We were created with the need to receive these emotional, spiritual, relational exchanges with God. In the same way, we were also created with the need to share or live out these character traits with each other. Usually, life is so busy that pouring these traits of God into each other’s lives gets set aside. It is worth mentioning that most all of us need to restructure our lives so as to have the time to consistently invest in this valuable and necessary exchange with each other, but we most certainly must focus on expressing God’s loving aspects with those who are in crisis. If you are already in the habit of living this way, it will be easier, but if your life has been too busy and you’ve neglected fine tuning these traits, God will still help you and honor your efforts to bless the person in crisis by living out His loving characteristics to them in their time of need.

The second, third, and fourth points are all based on drawing from your own experiences, such as recalling what you received during your own crisis that was good.

One of my favorites passages throughout life has been this one, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor. 1:3,4).” Again, this quote reminds that we are created to invest in valuable spiritual, emotional, relational exchange with people, using the comfort we received from the love of God and loving people during our various life crises to bring comfort to those in present crises. Remember what helped you in your time of need and share it, whether it is a story, a listening ear, or a kind deed.

Third, also drawing from your past experiences, recall what you wish people would have done for you during your crisis and do it for the person in need.

For example, maybe when you faced that same crisis, you needed someone to just listen and not give advice. Now be a listener! Or maybe in your crisis you could have used some positive distractions. I recall hearing about an elderly widow who had been very involved in her husband’s whole career and raising children, so when he died, she suddenly had free time that she never had before in her entire adult life. Normally, this could easily draw a person into depression by just using all the free time to focus on her loss. Instead, friends started planning day trips and out-of-state trips, taking her places she had never been so that, instead of focusing on the loss, they enabled her to make the transition to enjoying the life she still had to live.

Fourth, again drawing from your past experiences, remember what you wish people would not have said or done and don’t do it!

I read an interview by a certain author of popularity in recent years which listed things she wished people would not have said to her while she had cancer. I haven’t been able to locate the article so far, but I will post a link to it if I find it later. It listed things such as, “You look good for someone with cancer.” “At least you don’t have this type of cancer. I hear that’s always fatal.” “At least you haven’t lost your hair.” Scripture says we should be quick to listen and slow to speak (Jms. 1:9). When a friend is in a crisis, this is a very good point to apply. You don’t always need to say something. It is better to not speak than to speak carelessly just to keep up the conversation. Your physical presence-just being there-is often better than saying anything! The person is crisis does not expect you to have all of life’s answers, but they do want you to show that you care, that you love them, and that you are there when they need you. If you recall things that people said or did to you without thinking during your crisis, be careful not to repeat those same mistakes in your loved one’s crisis.

Fifth, ask the person in crisis what he or she feels they need.

Obviously, be sincere when asking! Ask if there is anything you can help them with, even if it is something that they would normally hesitate to ask or think that you wouldn’t want to do. If the person in crisis cannot think of anything at the moment, make sure they have your phone number and assure them that they should call you when they do think of something. Check again with them later.

Sixth, keep in touch.

I am very close to my brother. He is my only sibling. He has had a year of multiple crises. Though we talk fairly often, when he was going through an extreme crisis recently, I emailed and called every day during the worst of it, which lasted a few weeks. Did it take commitment? Absolutely. Did I always know what to say? No. Some days it was just a matter of asking how he was and letting him talk. If he didn’t have much to say because nothing had changed yet, I would try to share an encouraging word about God or tell something good or funny that happened to me. For example, my brother loves gardening. One phone call he asked me just to talk about what was blooming in my garden. See, it was not as much a matter of having all the answers; it was him knowing that I was showing the love of God by taking time to be with him-even if over the phone–to be supportive. It was a matter of showing how much I value him by seeing how he is and just taking some time with him. Keep in touch with your loved one in crisis on a daily basis, whether on the phone, via email, by sending a card, or visiting in person if you are local. You will be able to tell when the other person is getting stronger and coming out of their crisis to determine when to gradually begin moving toward the level of contact your relationship normally had prior to the crisis.

The main issue to overcome in helping a loved one in crisis is not doing anything because you don’t feel capable.

Remember, your time and presence are more valuable than your knowledge; they don’t expect you to know answers that only God has. God will bless your efforts to show His loving-kindness to someone else. These steps listed above are all ones that anyone can implement. The only way you fail your loved one in crisis is by not doing anything.