The LORD is good to
everyone, His compassion rests on all He has made. Ps. 145:9
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been meditating on the
compassion of God. I know His compassion
is holy - it’s different than anything that makes sense by this world’s
standards. The Hebrew word for
compassion in Ps 145 is racham, and
it is related to the Hebrew word for “womb”.
This word expresses the way a mother or father feels for a helpless
child. Now, I don’t like to think of
myself as helpless, but when I really stop and think about my ability to
control my world, I have to admit that helpless is a pretty good
description! I mean, it doesn't matter
how many bible studies I've filled out or how many times I've “served” in the
nursery, or how many family dinners we have each week - my checklists don’t
guarantee a perfect life. And, while I’m
working on doing more to be acceptable, He is waiting for me to realize that I
just need Him. Not more activities or
more hobbies. The longing for something
more is rooted in a deep desire to know the One who made me.
What He is showing me is that His compassion allows His
children to be led astray by their selfish ambition because He knows what it
will take to get their attention. And,
as the perfect parent, He knows exactly what experiences are necessary for us
to recognize how desperately we need Him.
He promises over and over throughout scripture that when we
choose anything other than Him, He will allow us to make our own choices, but
there will be consequences. And the
consequences will ultimately, for His children, lead them to turn their hearts
back to Him. Look at Jacob and King
David, just for starters! These two men –
one the father of Israel, the other the greatest king of Israel – both these
men made some pretty bad choices and turned their backs on what they knew to be
right in God’s eyes. Yet, if you follow
their stories through, you see that just as the father ran to meet the prodigal
son in Jesus’ parable, Father ran to meet these two sons, too.
And, I am one of those children. I can see that through the years, my Heavenly
Father’s compassion has allowed me to wander in chaos and darkness for the
purpose of making His light more bright and comforting. His compassion is tender in that He has
allowed me to see what a mess I am and has assured me that He loves me and has
a plan for me anyway. He is confirming
over and over to me that there is NOTHING I can do to make myself acceptable
and useful. He is overwhelming me with
His grace and mercy by showing me that HE ALONE is my only hope of
restoration.
My Father has promised that He will never leave me, and that
He can bring life, hope, healing from the worst of my worst. It’s my choice to surrender to Him and allow
Him to transform me. O what a love!
Father, you overwhelm
me with your compassion. It doesn't make
sense, yet I know it is true because I've experienced it. Just when I think I can’t sink any deeper
into darkness, You are there. When I recognize
my mess and wonder if You would really give me another chance, You are
there. You never leave, no matter
what. You are forever faithful to your
promises. So, I humbly bow before You
and surrender everything I am to You.
Restore this wayward soul.
The LORD is righteous
in all His ways, gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to
all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. –Ps. 145:17-18
