Mercy defined ( Merriam Webster)
1. Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
2. Blessing, that is an act of divine favor or compassion

Synonym: compassion, grace, kindness, sympathy,
Antonym: cruelty

God shows mercy by showing His unfailing love, being slow to get angry, and offering eternal life and His salvation no matter how we sin. If we had a father who was insensitive in words or actions, we may not believe our Father God could possibly care about us in love, and patience and bring us eternal life.

Do you want to gain a greater understanding of the love of God and the patient endurance of Jesus? Our human mind can’t grasp mercy and find favor beyond our mistakes. Once we become a believer in Christ, He opens our human understanding with His wisdom, it is a great reward.

2 Thessalonians 2-5

² Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. ³ But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. ⁴ And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. ⁵ May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

God can use anyone for His Kingdom purpose, He used a guy named Saul to deliver the gospel message to Gentiles ( beyond the chosen Jewish people).

Before Paul, became a Christian he persecuted Jesus followers. He was brought up with the book knowledge of the Bible but did not open his heart to Jesus. Paul was named Saul from birth. He had a life transforming experience when he lost his sight, Jesus spoke to Saul, who repented of his past and Jesus renamed him, Paul. From that moment on Paul served His Savior, Jesus. We can be the same stubborn, ignorant human, Jesus can have mercy on us. We are made new when we turn from past choices to Him. When we allow Jesus to direct our steps He shows us mercy and His plan unfolds. Paul wrote this scripture (letter to a new Christian, Timothy).

1 Timothy 1:12 – 14

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, ¹³ even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

Paul mentored this young man, Timothy, with the knowledge Jesus shared. Paul encouraged Timothy to grow in his faith over fear. Paul shared in his letters to Timothy, these words:

2 Timothy 1: 10 -13 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

¹¹ This is a trustworthy saying:

If we die with him,
    we will also live with him.
¹² If we endure hardship,
    we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
    he will deny us.
¹³ If we are unfaithful,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot deny who he is.

Those words are still true today. We must choose for ourselves who we will serve: the world or Jesus. It really is that simple. His mercy can be trusted but we must take the steps to receive it.

Paul wrote letters to many peoples including the Ephesians. He shared the love and mercy of Christ and many lives were transformed by Jesus for His Kingdom purposes and for generations. Just as Paul demonstrated, When we love God we want to follow His commands not as hard restrictions but as showing love of God and His people.

Ephesians 2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. ² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. ³ All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

I have been foolish, I may have been raised with a legalistic religion, I did the actions required until I became an adult. However, I wanted more, I wanted a relationship with Jesus. This occurred as I went through trials which led me to seek Him, trials can drive us to our knees and to reach for Jesus. I was 32. You are never too old to choose a new life with Jesus. Grateful for His mercy and grace freely given.

A dear Sister in Christ sent me this song by Jason Crabb, “Good Morning Mercy”. A beautiful reminder of the Mercy we can walk in every morning. He wants to do a new thing, let Him. I hope this song blesses your day, make it a good one.