by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Last night, on the way home, Liam asked me two questions that have stayed with me ever since. First, he asked, “Mama, what does the mercy of God mean?” Then, without missing a beat, he followed up with, “So, we are not worthy, yet God has mercy?” These questions were simple yet profound, and they made me stop and think. As adults, we sometimes overlook or take for granted the powerful concepts of grace and mercy, but through the eyes of a child, it’s as if I saw them anew.
The Mercy of God
Mercy is one of God’s greatest attributes. It’s defined as God withholding the judgment we rightfully deserve. While grace is the unmerited favor God gives us, mercy is God’s compassion when He chooses not to give us what we deserve. Liam’s question about mercy took me back to how often I forget just how merciful God has been in my life. We don’t deserve His kindness, His forgiveness, or His love, yet He offers them freely.
In the Bible, we’re reminded that God’s mercy is vast and immeasurable. In Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV), it says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Isn’t that amazing? Every day, God’s mercy is renewed. He doesn’t grow tired of extending mercy toward us, no matter how many times we fall short.
Approaching God with a Childlike Heart
Liam’s second question stopped me in my tracks: “So, we are not worthy, yet God has mercy?” What an honest, pure reflection of our human state. On our own, we are unworthy of God’s love. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But, despite our imperfections, God extends both grace and mercy to us.
This childlike perspective is so important when it comes to our relationship with God. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 (NIV), “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus highlights the importance of having a childlike heart—not childish, but humble, trusting, and dependent on God. Children don’t come with pride or self-sufficiency, and neither should we. When we approach God with humility, recognizing our dependence on Him, we align ourselves with His kingdom.
Grace and Worth
We live in a world where worth is often measured by performance and comparison, but God’s love and acceptance for us aren’t based on what we do—they are based on who He is and what He has done for us. Because of Jesus, we are made worthy. We are not worthy on our own, but through His sacrifice, we are made new.
We find our worth not in our actions or what others think of us, but in God’s grace and mercy. He loves us simply because we are His creation, and He calls us His beloved children. By accepting Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family, and we no longer have to strive for worth—we receive it as a free gift.
Grace, Mercy, and the Cross
Grace and mercy go hand-in-hand, and both are made available to us through the cross. Jesus took our sins and mistakes upon Himself, and through His sacrifice, we receive grace—unmerited favor—and mercy—God’s decision not to give us what we deserve. When we accept Jesus, we’re not only saved from death, but we’re also granted a new identity. God no longer sees our flaws and mistakes; He sees the righteousness of Christ in us. This is where our worth is found.
A Prayer for Grace and Mercy
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your endless grace and mercy. Thank You for loving us when we were unlovable, for forgiving us when we didn’t deserve it. We confess that we are not worthy of Your love, but You have made us worthy through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Help us to remember the price that was paid for our salvation and to live lives that reflect Your mercy and grace to others. May we approach You with the humility of a child, trusting You fully for our worth and identity. Teach us to walk in grace and mercy and to show that same love to others. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
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The Aging English Major 