But you, O Lord, are a a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalms 86:15 NLT)

Read: Joshua 15, Luke 18:18-43, Psalms 86:1-17, Proverbs 13:9-10

Relate: Some people are angry at God…I mean really angry. Why? They were hurt. Maybe I’m talking about you. Maybe you were hurt, and God didn’t stop the hurt from coming. I’ve been there. We may clench our teeth and say in our hearts, “How dare he stand there in all his power and allow us to suffer!” We rage and rave shaking our fists in righteous indignation. We scream to the heavens, and we say, “Where were you? You failed me. We have all felt the sting of living: betrayal, divorce, financial struggles, abuse, death, etc. etc. etc. The world is teeming and spilling over with damaged and broken people-people whose hearts are wounded- and some of us are angry, so very angry, at this God that would not stop the hurt from coming.

Maybe I’m not talking about you, but you know someone (or it was you at one point). How do I know? I know because the world is full of people- people who desperately need healing. God loves us enough to allow us freedom of choice, even when our choices cause pain. Man hurts man, and we blame God because we do not see that it takes power to allow us to be hurt. It takes his love to permit us to make our own choices… choices that damage others. Here is how we reconcile this aching and throbbing pain with our theology of an all powerful and all loving God: he is full of compassion and mercy; he is slow to anger and rich in love.

When David spoke of the nature of God in his prayer and his praise, he understood desperation, betrayal, depression, and all kinds of heartache. He also understood God’s mercy, forgiveness, and unfailing love. When David said that God was full of compassion and mercy, he knew what he was talking about.

React: 

Compassion- sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

God does not stand by with a cold and calculating heart while we are aching. In his love, he allows man to hurt man, and he allows nature to progress; however, it is not without compassion. His heart hurts for the hurting.

Mercy-kind or forgiving treatment of someone that could be treated harshly/ kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation.

God shows us kindness and love when we are in the depths of sorrow and despair. He also shows us kindness and forgiveness when we are the ones causing the pain in others. He is slow to anger. He does not give us the punishment our sins deserve. He gives us opportunity after opportunity to be forgiven. He is forever faithful to an unfaithful people. His love does not fail.

Whether you are angry with God, or you think he is angry with you, it does not change the truth. God is full of compassion and mercy for you, and his unfailing love will remain faithful.

Respond:

My heart and my soul praise you, Lord, because you are gracious and compassionate. Your love never fails, and you are faithful to me. Thank you for helping me to see that you do not stand by coldly when I hurt and that you are present showing me compassion, mercy, and unfailing love. I am so grateful that this is equally true when I am the one causing the pain and damage. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen