Day 4 — The Mystery of Mercy | The Blood | Adorned & Armed
Day 4
The Mystery of Mercy
One of the stunning realities of the Christian life is that in a world where everything is in some state of decay, God’s mercies never grow old. They never run out. They never are ill timed. They never dry up. They never grow weak. They never get weary. They never fail to meet the need. They never disappoint. They never, ever fail, because they really are new every morning.
— Paul David Tripp
God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God's refusals are always merciful - ‘severe mercies’ at times but mercies all the same. God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.
— Elisabeth Elliot
We all have moments when we feel more entitled to something others have. When someone else receives what we’ve been hoping and praying for, it takes a certain grace to remain steady and keep trusting. “Life is not fair” becomes the mantra of the masses when we're confronted with life’s contradictions. Sometimes, the person best resourced to care for a child remains childless, while another who may not be physically, emotionally, or materially ready conceives only to neglect or even abort the child. How can a good God give His treasure to both the good and the bad? I call this the mystery of God's mercy, though many theologians address it as common grace. Timothy Keller puts it this way: “The doctrine of common grace helps us to acknowledge God's goodness in all of creation and enables us to pursue mission with love in a fallen world. This gift of God's grace to humanity in general demonstrates a desire on God's part to bestow certain blessings on all human beings, believer and non-believer alike.” Even the contradictions of life caught the attention of wise King Solomon. I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race, nor the strongest man the battle, and that wise men are often poor, and skillful men are not necessarily famous; but it is all by chance, by happening to be at the right place at the right time
Ecclesiastes 9:11, TLB
So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]
Romans 9:16, AMPC
Audio readingThe Mystery of Mercy
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We all have moments when we feel more entitled to something others have. When someone else receives what we’ve been hoping and praying for, it takes a certain grace to remain steady and keep trusting. “Life is not fair” becomes the mantra of the masses when we're confronted with life’s contradictions. Sometimes, the person best resourced to care for a child remains childless, while another who may not be physically, emotionally, or materially ready conceives only to neglect or even abort the child.
How can a good God give His treasure to both the good and the bad? I call this the mystery of God's mercy, though many theologians address it as common grace. Timothy Keller puts it this way: “The doctrine of common grace helps us to acknowledge God's goodness in all of creation and enables us to pursue mission with love in a fallen world.
This gift of God's grace to humanity in general demonstrates a desire on God's part to bestow certain blessings on all human beings, believer and non-believer alike.” Even the contradictions of life caught the attention of wise King Solomon.
I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race, nor the strongest man the battle, and that wise men are often poor, and skillful men are not necessarily famous; but it is all by chance, by happening to be at the right place at the right time
Ecclesiastes 9:11, TLB
Other translations say “time and chance happen to them all.” Logically, the fastest runner should win the race, the strongest should win the battle, and the wise should never be poor. Yet, that’s not always the case.
By extension, we might assume that the most educated, the most prayerful, or the most well-connected should automatically receive God’s blessings. But often, the highly qualified are unemployed, the legally married are childless, and the upright struggle in ways that defy logic.
In Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans lies a profound truth that has helped me navigate these puzzling realities:
So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]
Further reading
Psalm 44:1-8Romans 9:6-26Luke 1:57-58Hebrews 4:16
Journal prompts
01Do I truly believe that God's mercy, not my efforts or qualifications, is the basis for every blessing in my life?
02How do I respond when God's mercy blesses others in ways I feel I deserve? Do I celebrate or question His fairness?
03Am I willing to surrender my sense of justice and control to embrace the mystery of a mercy that gives, withholds, or delays according to God’s perfect wisdom and love?
Thank the Lord for His goodness and mercies towards you.
Ask God to free your heart from entitlement and comparison and help you rest in the assurance of His mercy.
Ask God's forgiveness for any confidence you have placed in your efforts and goodness.
Pray for the grace to rejoice in others’ blessings without bitterness, trusting that God’s timing for you is perfect.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reshape your perspective so you may see delays, denials, or detours as “severe mercies” working for your ultimate good.
Ask for a deeper revelation of God’s mercy that transcends fairness and logic, producing gratitude instead of frustration.
Daily declaration
I receive God’s mercy and timely help at His throne of grace for every need in my life, family, and community. I declare that any unfavourable condition, untimely sorrow or mishap against me is averted by God’s mercy.
I experience God's deliverance and restoration every moment of my life as His Spirit directs my heart. I am fruitful and prosperous not by sheer determination or strenuous exertion but by God’s mercy. As I exhibit mercy, I shall be blessed, joyful and spiritually prosperous in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Carrying something from today’s reading?
Share it on The Wall, or send it privately to the prayer team.
The key to receiving from God is not our merit, effort, religion, or status. It’s God’s mercy. Paul, once a fierce persecutor of Christians, knew firsthand what it meant to receive this mercy.
God is good, yes, but He is also just. Scripture tells us He is “faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). Yet, forgiveness does not always cancel the consequences of our actions. For instance, God forgives fornication, but if pregnancy results, confession doesn’t undo it. However, God is able to reroute events so that even such outcomes can ultimately serve a good purpose.
This divine attribute, where God withholds deserved judgment or reengineers a negative for good, is what I call mercy. Throughout Scripture, God's goodness is consistently accompanied by His mercy.
The Bible is filled with stories where God's mercy defies human understanding. Consider David. He slept with Bathsheba, arranged the death of her husband Uriah to cover up the affair, and took her as his wife. God forgave David, but the child died. Yet, Bathsheba, of all David’s wives, became the mother of Solomon, whom God named Jedidiah, meaning “beloved of the Lord.”
Why would God choose “Uriah’s wife,” as Scripture continues to call her, to bear the heir to the throne instead of someone like Abigail, known for her virtue? Because God’s mercy, while beautiful, often confounds our sense of fairness.
Some people, when they reflect on their lives, feel they’ve done enough to earn God’s blessings. Others, aware of their past mistakes, wonder if they’ve disqualified themselves. But mercy steps in where nothing else qualifies. Mercy gives us another chance, a different outcome, and a future that doesn’t match our past.
Maybe you’ve lived a pure and faithful life and still lack something you’ve long prayed for. Did Sarah do anything wrong? No! She was a godly woman, yet she waited for years. How about Hannah or Elizabeth? Holiness is not a bargaining chip for blessings. Righteous living is our response to God's grace, not a down payment for His gifts. If you hold a transactional view of faith, it may lead to disappointment and frustration. The truth is, we receive on the condition of God's mercy.
When God’s mercy finds a person, their life becomes a mystery to the watching world. In a culture that rewards effort, connections, and status, God's mercy and grace disrupt expectations. Consider the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. His indignation came from witnessing mercy he thought was undeserved.
Max Lucado put it this way: “The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.” May you experience both in this season.
Let’s talk about Saul and David. Saul acted rashly, envied David, and even consulted mediums. But David committed adultery, orchestrated murder, lied, and carried on like nothing had happened. Why wasn’t he dethroned? Why wasn’t he stoned as the Law of Moses demanded? Because David knew how to seek, depend on, and rest in the mercies of God. (See Psalm 40:11; Psalm 89:22–24, 28; Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 24:14).
That’s the mystery of mercy. God gives what our sins cannot cancel. May this become your testimony.
Finally, let’s consider one more picture of mercy. You know the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, the younger, received the blessing meant for Esau, the firstborn. But notice something often overlooked: before Isaac would bless Esau (despite God’s earlier prophecy), he asked him to: “Take your weapons... and hunt game for me” (Genesis 27:3).
Esau tried securing a spiritual blessing through his physical strength, hunting animals God already owns (see Psalm 50:9–12). But his strength failed, and Jacob received the blessing. Why?
Romans 9:10–16 (TPT) explains it: "Before her twin sons were born, God spoke to Rebekah and said: ‘The oldest will serve the youngest.’ God said this before the sons had done anything good or bad. This proves that God chooses according to His own purpose... not by works but by mercy.
We strive for blessings only God can give. We disqualify ourselves for blessings He’s still willing to give. But there is a better way: receive by His mercy. As says:
Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory.
Psalm 44:3, CEV
So today, earnestly seek and receive God’s kindness, favour, and great mercy. Consider where you may have been striving or disqualifying yourself from what He freely gives.
His mercy invites you to come not as one who has achieved, but as one willing to receive. Lay down striving, open your hands, and let His mercy have the final word over your life.