The Waiting Walk

God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his work.

Psalm 62:11-12

I’m reading a series to my 5th graders. It is a fairly new set written by Nicole Parker. The Tales of the Exodus Series. (https://www.nicoleparkerbooks.com/books)

Nicole explores this idea of the Justice of God next to the Mercy of God throughout the serious, but it is a main focus of the book On Wings of Love. Every time I read it I gain something new. I highly recommend this entire series. Period. It’s written for kiddos anywhere from 7 or 8 years old through middle school, but I am actually reading it at home to my high schoolers and they’re loving it. I’m loving it – I recommend it to adults without children all the time too!

So anyway, back to this idea of Justice and Mercy. So often we see these as the opposite sides of the spectrum. I’ll give you mercy… but eventually there will be justice. And yes, that is somewhat accurate, but it’s more than that. Both justice and mercy accurately portray the character of God.

So when I was reading through the Psalms a while ago, I stumbled on to Psalm 62. Using the “once” and “twice” is our signal to listen up – what is about to be said is important! It then talks about both power and mercy belonging to God. Most of us envision power and force when we think of Justice. Punishment, prison sentences, paying fines – all these require someone in power forcing another to “receive justice” for his actions.

Some people view God this way too. Full of power to force others to do what He wants. But this isn’t what we see when we really study God’s powerful acts. And I just love how in these verses, power and mercy are both given as equal attributes of God.

All His acts are acts of love.

Do we believe that?

Are we willing to trust that whether it is an act of mighty power (for us, or to help correct us) or an act of sweet mercy (for us, or for someone we aren’t so sure deserves it), it is ultimately an act of love?

I am. Or at least I’m getting there. I definitely still have my questions, and there are many times when it seems like nearly identical situations get a different answer to prayer by God, and I don’t understand why. But ultimately I am choosing to believe that God’s power and mercy combine together and are used to perfectly provide/render/reward each person with what it is they need at that moment for the ultimate goal of their salvation.

All His acts are acts of Love. They have to be, because that is WHO he is. Nothing more, nothing less.

God IS Love.