Lord, Have Mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.—Matthew 5:7

Each of us are trying to deal with the covid-19 virus pandemic. Many have very real fears about our health, our finances, and the future. We are learning how to practice better hygiene and social distancing. While we follow the social distancing mandate, let us be mindful to not practice spiritual distancing. I pray we will live as people of faith rather than people controlled by fear and self-preservation.

With each new report of additional cases, closings, and deaths, I find myself becoming more anchored in faith. Lamentation 3 and Habakkuk 3 bring me great comfort. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Lamentations 3:22-23 describes rejoicing amid destruction. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” When small challenges come, we often try to cope with them the best we can. We may worry a bit, but if we work hard and do our best, we usually get by. But with each day of more closings, cases, death, and stock market decline, I realize this is too big for me. I can never handle this on my own. It is only through the Lord’s mercies that we will overcome.

Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). The promise of God’s care and protection are to those who are merciful. Forgiveness is promised to those who forgive others. God’s pressed down and running over provisions are promised to those who give generously. In times of crisis, let us focus on ministry to others while we trust ourselves to God’s care and mercy.

Christians are called to be the ones who run toward trouble and reach out to the least, last, and lost. Throughout history, Christians have ministered in leper colonies, cared for dying babies on the streets of Calcutta, and comforted and buried plague victims. Today, we should honor the guidelines for health and pandemic prevention, but let us not become self-centered to the point that we neglect those in need around us.

I encourage you to turn to the Lord and find comfort in the promises of God’s Word. Psalm 27 is a beautiful, inspiring Psalm; I encourage you to read it entirely. “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me” (vs. 7).  Be encouraged! This virus will pass. Our Faithful Lord is still on the Throne. God’s mercy endures forever. The Psalm concludes with verse 14, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Let us be merciful as we cry out to God for mercy. Pray for God’s mercy as we face this worldwide attack. Let us draw near to God and others even as we practice social distancing. Join me and the Psalmist as we pray, “Hear, O Lord, have mercy.”

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.