“Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 86:3,4
I praise you, Lord God, for your warm and loving heart which makes it possible to always come to you and tell you what is bothering me, where I have failed, where I am uncertain, where I am angry, upset and hurting.
You are pleased when your children transparently pour out their hearts to you. We can be fully honest, “for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all those who call upon you” (Ps. 86:5).
What a full-orbed God you are! On one side you are pure and perfect, high and holy. On the other, you are loving and merciful, gracious and gentle, kind and forgiving, faithful and tender.
There’s a tension between these two aspects of your character—being the firm Judge and the kind Justifier, the stern Punisher and the gracious Pardoner, the awesome Mighty One and the approachable Merciful One, the fearsome sin Condemner and the tender Savior of sinners.
Both sides are always present, showing the beautiful balance of your character, kept in place, at least in our minds, by the tension between the two aspects: your “firm side” and your “tender side.”You are like the rock in this picture: solid and unshakable in makeup, beautiful in green covering.
This balance helps us respond to you well. Your unbending justice inspires a holy fear of you: awe, respect, caring deeply what you think, and having a fear of firm consequences if we sin. And your all-encompassing compassionate side inspires love, trust, transparency and joy. Together they nurture worship, self-denial and obedience.
Seeing this perfect balance in your character brings security, rest and contentment. In you we belong, in you we have worth, in you we have competence.
We praise you that in your perfection and that you love the imperfect. We can rest in your love and grace today. Truly, “My soul finds rest in God alone” (Psl. 62:1).
