Little Mercies

 

Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Right after Chip and I were married, we moved to Florida where he and his brother bought a lot, cleared the land, and built a spec house to sell. Since at that time I had no job, I got up early every morning and went with him to work. Did I mention it was August—the absolute hottest time of the year in Florida? Sometimes while I was mixing mud or carrying concrete block, I would literally pray for a breeze. I still remember my quiet praise when small gusts of wind found their way to Kilarney Street. The Lord’s little mercies.

Those unwarranted little mercies go beyond our daily bread. As gifts from a generous God, they can put a smile on our face, cause a tear in our eye and refresh our soul. They interrupt a stumbling, weary world and remind us of an unfaltering, tireless love. A personal, one-on-one kind of affection.

Cool morning breezes in summer still make me think of God’s mercies. So do sightings of a hummer at my birdfeeder, a pleasant conversation, or a creative idea for dinner. To some people, these things may seem insignificant, but to me they serve as connectors to a great faithful Lord whose love “never ceases” for his children.

Often those little mercies arrive in less subtle ways.

A friend of mine was going through a very difficult, heart-wrenching season of life. But it seemed every time she turned on the radio, His Eye Is on the Sparrow was playing. After about the third time, all thoughts of coincidence faded. She recognized God’s mercy was peeking through her clouds of confusion, reminding her he was still there.

Our world seems to be getting increasingly dark. Jeremiah’s memorable words in Lamentations 3 proclaim God’s mercies in similar dark days. But he didn’t let the dust of the world or the injustice of man shade the unshakable truth that God provides new mercies—even little ones—each day to help us get through.

I pray you take the time to recognize God’s little mercies for you. May you drink in his great faithfulness and steadfast love. Every morning.

 

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