The mercy of God isn’t something we always feel, yet it is always something we must believe. If we don’t, we risk giving up. And giving up is soul killing. It is soul killing because you were made to fight for the blessing that belongs to you. God has something amazing for you. It’s covered in mercy and often buried inside deep pain. So how do you get to that blessing, to that victory, to actually acknowledging His mercy? You battle for it!

This world isn’t perfect, and though I’m sure you’ve figured this out already, we have to battle for the beautiful. However, the beautiful usually lies inside a crevice of darkness willing to overtake us as soon as we put down our swords. Remember when Moses began to drop his hands during the fight between Joshua and the Amalekites?

Exodus 17:8-13

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. ⁹ And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” ¹⁰ So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. ¹² But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ¹³ So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.(N.K.J.V.)

On that day, Aaron and Hur were used by God to provide mercy for Moses in the defeat over the Amalekites. God had a wonderful plan but it needed carried out. There was blessing within it. But battle was necessary. The victory was beautiful but it didn’t happen without the fight. Recently, I’ve been taking lots of time to process what this means.

Most of you know that I started this blog as an encouragement for women after struggling through a 15 year battle of my own. My battle is what led me here to this place. And, Sometimes, I think it is the battle that keeps me going – the battle that is made up of a journey overflowing with unexplained circumstances and daily difficulties that all too often cause us to drop our arms in exhaustion. I don’t want to let that happen to me. This blog is my battleground so that maybe, just maybe, you will have the encouragement you need to keep fighting as well.

I’ve been slowly digesting a book by Jonathan Martin entitled, Prototype. In the midst of all I’ve been pondering about battles, the blessings found within them, and how we survive long enough to find mercy inside, I read a portion of his book that spoke profoundly on this very subject.

In chapter five, Jonathan speaks with accuracy when he says, “The truth is, blessings that come without bruises and victories that come without a limp as a souvenir won’t be particularly sweet or memorable.” He discusses Jacob’s long night of wrestling, the limp that he walked away with, and concludes something which I think is brilliant – “In short, if you have no limp, you likely have no blessing, at the very least, without a limp you are less aware of the blessings you have, which might be just as bad.”

You see, in those moments of battle, we usually pay a price to receive a blessing, to feel the mercy, and receive victory. It is then that our tests become our testimonies and beauty rises from ashes. We can appreciate what we have and what we still need to fight for.

My point is this, eventually; we will feel His mercy, because His mercy exists. It is as faithful as the sunrise, which He created. It is new every morning.

For the rest of this week I am going to talk about the battle, beauty, and blessing that comes with it. I hope you will join me again tomorrow for part 2.

Are you battling something? How can I pray for you today?

Love,

Jennifer

PS: If you missed it and want to find out how you can receive a free copy of my eBook, Mercy Waits, just click here.