His Ministry of Mercy

The Holy Spirit seeks to bring us knowledge that God will be merciful to us throughout our trials. “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:1, NKJV).

What is the merciful ministry we have received from the Holy Spirit? He opens our eyes to the tender mercies of Christ toward us. He implants in us an inner knowing that the Lord is on our side, that he is for us. He reveals God’s deep commitment to keep us from falling and his compassion for everything we’re going through. 

Right now, you may feel abused and unloved. The devil would have you believe that God has left you to your own devices, that you deserve to suffer, that it’s all over for you, that there is no hope. Beloved, those are lies from hell. God wants more than anything else to rid you of your perverted concept of him. He loves you tenderly, and he has already set a time to bestow all his mercies on you.

David cried pitifully as he was overwhelmed by his situation: “My heart is stricken and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. My enemies reproach me all day long… And mingled my drink with weeping... My days are like a shadow that lengthens…” (Psalm 102:4, 7-9, 11, NKJV) He groaned, “I’m in a terrible condition, physically, mentally, and spiritually.”

Yet that was the very time God had set to deliver David, and the Lord moved in quickly with mercy, help, and comfort. David testified, “You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come”(Psalm 102:13).

God’s set time to deliver David was in his lowest hour, when he was thinking, “I’ve been reduced to nothing.” Likewise, today, God has set a time to deliver and send his favor upon us, and it usually comes in our worst hour of trial. That’s the time when we’re no longer struggling to do things on our own. Instead, we admit, “Lord, I can’t do this; it’s a mess. I give it all over to you.”