Contentment Archives - Tomme Stevenson

February 10, 2026January 21, 2026

Fear Buries Purpose not by Force, but by Permission.

Fear buries purpose not by force, but by permission. Giving in to the fear of failure hides your ability to reach your potential. Fear is the loud giant roaring in your mind, while faith is that whisper that pushes you forward. Too many times, we listen to the roaring giant because we can’t hear the whisper. We become less than God meant us to be, a shell of who we could have become.

Rationalization of Fear

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Fear is not from God. If fear is driving your decisions, something other than God is shaping your future.

The sad part is that we accept outcomes as destiny. We justify results based on effort, not potential. Fear doesn’t just scare us; it rewrites our beliefs. It convinces us that safety equals wisdom, that smallness equals humility, and that resignation equals maturity. We start calling retreat “discernment” and paralysis “patience.” That’s how fear survives—by disguising itself as reason.

Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Potential is Stewardship

But potential is not a suggestion. It is stewardship.

Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

What we often call destiny is simply the sum of our surrendered decisions. We accept outcomes as if they were set in stone, when in reality, many were negotiated away out of fear, not through rebellion, but through caution, hesitation, and waiting until we felt ready, qualified, or safe.

If you listen to your fears, you will die never knowing what a great person you might have been. ~ Robert H. Schuller

Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous… Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Fear Does Not Make Us Evil

Fear does not make us evil. It makes us incomplete.

And the tragedy isn’t failure. Failure refines, teaches, and humbles.
The real tragedy is never trying because we convince ourselves that silence is obedience.

Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, I will help you.”

Faith is not loud. It seldom competes with fear in volume. It speaks through invitations: ‘Step forward.’ ‘Trust Me.’ ‘You were made for more.”

The question is not if fear will roar, because it always will.
The real question is whether we will base our lives on noise or on truth.

We are not victims of fate; we are stewards of a calling. Fear isn’t just a limit on the present—it shortens the impact of the echo that is your life.

Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”

December 30, 2025December 28, 2025

Happy New Year from the God of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

The God of the past, present and future Happy New Year from the God of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. As we step into the new year, we naturally reflect on the past and make plans for the future. Often, the past has too much influence on shaping what lies ahead. The closer we get to Christ, the more we see our future as being shaped by the sins of our past.

Security for Yesterday

Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

One of the biggest challenges for Christ followers raised in modern culture is understanding God’s forgiveness. We are naturally inclined toward a quid pro quo view of transactions. Surely God must demand payment for His gift. I can’t possibly repay Him fully, but I feel I should at least try to repay Him partially.

God desires to have a relationship with you. He created you for that reason. When we couldn’t bridge the gap between us, He took on the task of reconciliation.

Ephesians 1:7, “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

That is not to say that we might experience the natural by-product of our sin while here on earth. However, that is not Him punishing us for our actions; it is we who face the natural consequences of that sin. God, through Christ’s resurrection, has bridged the great distance between our past and His future.

Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

We have to accept that forgiveness. It feels unnatural for us as humans to believe it’s fair to receive such a gift without strings attached.

Through Christ, the line of communication between God and man is always open unless broken by man himself. We are, as it were, always in the presence of our Father in Heaven. Through His Holy Spirit, God is with us always and everywhere. – John Andreas Widtsoe

Security for Today

Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The starting point is today, this very moment. God is the God of moments. Every time you feel that you might be backsliding, remember God is the God of moments. Reset, and start again. Ask for strength and forgiveness to live this moment for Him. If we live each moment, the future will take care of itself.

Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power. –Brother Yun

The small choices you make today influence the options available for the major decisions you’ll encounter later. Almost every future event in your life can be linked to the small choices you’ve made in the past.

Security for Tomorrow

Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

You were made for great things. God has woven into every part of you to fulfill His purpose in your life. Your role is to obey His will in achieving that purpose.

As you approach 2026, your goal should be to seek and pursue God’s will in your life. It’s easy to assume that God desires what you want, but that is only true if your priority is serving Him. God’s measure of success isn’t based on worldly achievements or wealth, but instead on peace, obedience, faithfulness, and being aligned with Him. These qualities are eternal.

If your plan is His plan, then success is assured.

Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

December 16, 2025December 2, 2025

Paul, A Role Model for Living

Your past does not control your future I see Paul as a role model for living. Not just because he’s passionate about sharing the gospel, but in how he lived his everyday life. It’s easy for me to depend on my past as a guide for my future. This way of thinking assumes there’s a fixed trait or unchanging characteristic in who I was that determines who I can become. It’s the old nature-versus-nurture debate. But look at Paul as an example.

Paul’s Past

Paul’s life began as an avid supporter of the Jewish religion and traditions. He was about as anti-Christ as any man in his day. He didn’t just passively ignore the teachings of Christ, but he actively persecuted His followers.

Acts 9:1-2, “Meanwhile, Saul was still issuing murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he could take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”

His attitude toward Christ was so divisive that after his conversion to Christianity, he was feared by Christians and hated by Jews.

Acts 21:10-11: “After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. When he came to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'”

I may have ignored Christ in my earlier years, but I did not actively harm Christians for their beliefs. If Paul could overcome his beginnings, why can’t I? In God’s economy, it is not where you start, but where you end up. Salvation through Christ’s resurrection erases the past and opens the future.

Paul’s Sin Nature

Paul faced the same temptations we do. The Bible isn’t specific about which sins haunted Paul, only that they did.

Romans 7:15-20, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

Paul wasn’t a superhero immune to the world around him. He was human, and therefore, he faced temptation. Paul believed in Christ to the point of imprisonment and torture, yet he still struggled with sin. If Paul, who was entirely devoted to Christ, struggled, why do I expect otherwise?

Paul’s Legacy

Over 2,00 years later, Paul’s words still resonate around the world. In 2025, approximately 2.64 billion Christians live worldwide, making up about one-third of the global population. Christianity remains the largest religion globally. (Lifeway Research)

Despite his treacherous beginnings and rebellious worldly nature, he made an impact that changed the world. God not only did not hold these against him but also used them to strengthen his testimony.

Now Us

Our past isn’t held against us. The blood of Christ has covered our sins. God doesn’t want us to dwell on who we were but to celebrate who we have become. We will keep fighting against the temptations of the world. God’s greatest disciple did so throughout his life, and so will we.

The obstacle we must avoid is allowing who we were to prevent us from becoming who we can be. We can be so obsessed with the past that we’re unable to build a better future. God died for our freedom from the past’s control.

God has forgiven you, and it is time for you to forgive yourself.

Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

December 2, 2025November 17, 2025

When Life Turns Up the Heat

When Life Turns up the heat. When life turns up the heat and hardship defines our existence, do we see it as punishment or an opportunity to grow?

Lately, I have been reflecting on this. Before Joseph arrived at the palace, he was sold into slavery and sent to prison. Before David became king, he had to defeat Goliath and escape from Saul. Esther was orphaned and exiled before she became queen. Moses went from Pharaoh’s palace to herding sheep in the wilderness. God doesn’t give us what we expect; He gives us what we need to be the person He made us to be. That’s the hard part, the refining.

Be a Coffee Bean

Just as God refines His people, heat also reveals what’s inside us. I heard this analogy: If you put an egg, a potato, and a coffee bean each in boiling water. The egg starts soft inside; the heat hardens it. The potato starts hard on the inside, but heat makes it soft. The coffee bean is another story. The coffee bean changes the water, turns it into something useful. The moral is that hardship can turn us hard and callous inside because of our circumstances. Hardship can beat you down, make you lose heart, and surrender your strength. But, hardship did not change the coffee bean; the coffee bean used the heat to change the water.

We all face struggles; it is part of living in a broken world. Hardship doesn’t define us—it refines us into who God designed us to be. Because we live in a fallen world, struggles will happen. God is aware of this and uses those challenges to refine and purify us.

Malachi 3:3, “He will act like a refiner and purifier.”

In these times, we need not question why this is happening to us, but what do You want me to do next? How do you want me to use what I am going through to become the person I was always destined to be?

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

When Life Barges In

When life barges in to create chaos and hardship, that is when we are allowed to show others God’s grace. It is during these moments that others look to us to see what our faith will produce. Anyone can feel thankful in good times, but it takes someone of faith to be thankful during tough times. A person of faith knows that God cares enough about them to use these moments to shape them into something better. They are not looking for excuses or blaming others; instead, they are seeking purpose and direction.

Jesus experienced everything you’re going through. Jesus was misunderstood, disappointed by people, lonely, and tempted. If God allowed His Son to face all of that, will He also let you go through it? The reason is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

The point I want you to remember is that hardship is not meant to push you down, crush you. It is intended to draw you closer to Jesus and strengthen you. It is through this refining that we see how much God truly cares for us as individuals. He will not allow us to stay the same when a better us lives inside.

Refinement isn’t punishment, it’s preparation.

October 7, 2025October 2, 2025

Are You in a Storm?

Great Storms Great Beauty Is today, this week, or this year overwhelming? Do you feel trapped, searching for a way out? We all face storms. Some are caused by our choices, while others are thrust upon us. The winds rage, the rains wash away what we cherish, and darkness presses in. Worst of all, it seems like the storm will never end. That is Satan’s lie. He wants us to believe there’s no way forward.

Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Your Life Is Priceless

Your life has priceless value. You bear the image of God Himself (Genesis 1:27). He designed you with gifts, passions, and potential that no storm can erase. The world and its voices try to diminish you, to reduce you to comparisons, trends, or failures. But God created you for eternity.

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

I understand what it feels like to live in despair, weighed down by unmet expectations. The world claims that this moment of pain defines us — but it doesn’t. God has placed within each of us a unique design. Even our weaknesses are part of His plan, not to erase but to reshape for His glory.

When storms make you feel abandoned, remember: you are set apart, loved, and created for good works. God’s light in you is greater than the storm.

Romans 12:6, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

Your Calling

Your calling isn’t to become someone else’s definition of greatness, but to discover the greatness already inside you. Stop paying attention to the storm and start listening to the One who created you.

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

The way forward isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about serving others. When we invest in others, God’s love flows through us. Helping someone else helps us discover who He created us to be. That’s when storms lose their strength.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. And storms don’t last forever. Change the world, be the storm.

“Be the storm that’s relentless, not the one that passes by and is forgotten.” – Maya Angelou

August 5, 2025July 13, 2025

Clarity Map and the Unreasonable Man

God's Plan A Clarity Map is a powerful visual representation of personal success principles that can produce tangible results quickly when combined with focused and consistent action. Paraphrased from Gilles Cote of claritymaps.com

Interestingly, I had never heard of Clarity Maps. While discussing this quote: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” I ran across the idea. The quote is from George Bernard Shaw’s play “Man and Superman” (1903).

Clarity Map

As I researched this quote, I mentally visualized how to apply it. Traditionally, I would create this visual using a program called MindManager. However, my research buddy, ChatGPT, introduced me to the term “Clarity Map,” which I liked.

In my view, a clarity map is a series of questions that you ask yourself that lead to an action targeted toward a specific goal. There are many pieces to that statement. There is a self-interrogation about motives, values, and purpose. The answers to those questions should point you toward an ultimate goal. Then, the clarity map describes the actionable steps to achieving that goal.

I’m always cognizant of a point on the horizon I am navigating toward. Having this visual in my head simplifies decision-making. A decision either moves you closer to the point or deflects you from it. Creating that point on the horizon requires self-honesty, which most of us are uncomfortable with.

Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

The Unreasonable Man

“The purpose of life is not to be happy—but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you lived at all.” – author Leo Rosten, 1962, National Book Awards

Back to the quote. Being an unreasonable man seems, well, unreasonable. As a Christian, what does it mean to be unreasonable? I think the Bible is obvious on this subject. We are not to conform to the world but to be transformed by renewing our minds.

Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you can test and approve God’s will—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

We should be bold disruptors of unfulfilled lives. Bold disruptors don’t just see potential; they ignite it. As disruptors, we should not just give people tools and twelve-step programs—we should give them agency, authority, and purpose. George Bernard Shaw believes that progress depends on the unreasonable man. God’s kingdom does not expand by adapting God’s word to worldly circumstances; it expands because we adapt the world to accept God’s word.

James 4:4, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Circling Back Around

Do you have a clarity map to be unreasonable? People worldwide need to start believing in God’s mercy and love. Belief doesn’t just bloom on its own — it needs a crack in the wall, a little light, a voice saying, “You can.” As a disruptor, you are not a savior but a spark — someone who disrupts the inertia just enough for the potential to start moving, becoming. A person with purpose is unstoppable.

“The purpose of life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.” — Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

Here are some starting questions for building your clarity map:

What do you already know? “What have you learned from life, work, school, bible study, or struggle?”
What do you care about deeply? “What or who keeps you up at night?”
What must change? “If you could fix one thing, what would it be?”
What does that change look like? “What would life around you look like if that thing were different?”
What’s one way you could help move toward that future? “What person could you help today, even in a small way?”
Forget your limits. Focus on your direction. “Even if you don’t know how to get there, you know where you’re going.”

Create a clarity map for your mission to expand God’s kingdom. I don’t believe you can hit a target you cannot see. Be unreasonable. Save a life.

John 17:14, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”

July 29, 2025July 28, 2025

Last Day on Earth

Take care of your life, and the Lord will take care of your death If today were your last day on earth, how would you live it? Reflect on life’s meaning, priorities, and what truly matters most. Most of us don’t get that kind of warning. But if we did, would we choose differently? I don’t mean to sound morbid—but it’s a powerful question worth asking.

James 4:14, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

“You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” — Rick Warren

The Accident

I passed a horrific accident on the interstate after visiting family. Metal twisted like paper. Debris littered the highway. Both cars had rolled at high speed. Their roofs lay shredded and torn off completely. The wreckage screamed devastation. No one could have survived.

My first thought: Were they ready to die this morning when they woke up?

Psalm 39:4, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”

Today probably started like any other day for them, except for the excitement of a trip. Plans were made, all the essential things needed for the trip were gathered and stored, and life moved forward. Most of us begin each day expecting it to continue normally.

We rarely think: This is the day I stand before God. We assume today will unfold like yesterday. But sometimes, it doesn’t.

The Conversation

I remember a conversation from years ago with an inmate on death row. I was curious about how it feels to know the exact time and date of your death. To me, it seemed frightening and unsettling. He became a Christian in prison; his response was that it was comforting. He then asked, “Do you know if you will live to make it home? Were you prepared?” Life has a way of disrupting our plans. That really stayed with me.

Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Seeing this accident reminded me of his statement. Did I wake up this morning with the intent to live today as if it were my last? Do I live that way every day? Sadly, my answer is “No.” Somehow, I expect to keep living, pretty much the same way I always do. I make a few adjustments along the way, but that is about it.

The Realization

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. There are apologies we’ve postponed. People who need to hear the Gospel. Loved ones we haven’t embraced. Invisible neighbors who crave recognition. It’s easy to let the urgent override the essential. Easy to say, “I’ll get to that later.”

But what if later never comes?

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I want you to be prepared. Take a moment every morning to think about it and respond accordingly.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –

July 8, 2025June 10, 2025

Happy Birthday to Me

It is how many apples in a seed. Happy Birthday to me. Yesterday, I turned seventy-five—three-quarters of a century lived. It’s hard to believe. Deep inside me still lives that sixteen-year-old small-town farm boy wondering how we got here. The truth is, it didn’t happen all at once. It was a journey of countless tiny steps—millions, billions, maybe even trillions of small decisions, each shaping the road ahead.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Twenty-One

I remember when twenty-one seemed impossibly far away. It felt like a milestone that would define everything, and for a while, it did. But eventually, it too faded into memory—just one of many great moments that came and went, each significant, each now a part of the past. A lifetime of echoes.

“The greater your knowledge of the goodness and grace of God on your life, the more likely you are to praise Him in the storm.” – Matt Chandler

My daughter—wiser than I ever was—once told me, “Everything that’s happened made me who I am, and I like who I am.” I’m proud to be her father. Me? I’m still figuring that out. Life went fast. Too fast.

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

My path hasn’t been straightforward. For nearly five decades, I concentrated on making a living. My calendar was filled with meetings and business trips, but in between were birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and family vacations. I’ve traveled the world and experienced wonders I once only dreamed of. I met extraordinary people, and in their presence, I often felt small. I was busy. Life didn’t wait.

Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Seventy-fifth Birthday

Now, at seventy-five, I’m grateful. I’m healthy for my age, I have the means to live comfortably, and I still wake up each day with purpose. I continue to explore the world—discovering places I didn’t even know existed. The people I meet now may not have formal education, but they possess deep wisdom. In their lives, it’s not material possessions but relationships that matter most. And maybe that’s the greatest lesson of all.

By some measures, being seventy-five makes me an old man. But inside, I don’t feel old. I expected to, maybe even hoped I would. But I just feel… like me. Perhaps a little wiser—not because I chased wisdom, but because life taught me through experience.

Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

I don’t fear death. I see it not as an end, but as a beginning. Sometimes I wonder why I don’t long for it—to escape this slow fading of strength. But that’s not for me to choose. God still wakes me each morning, so the work isn’t done.

I’ve lost friends, and I miss them deeply. Sometimes, I envy them—because those of us still here carry the weight of their absence. But over time, you learn to live with grief. Some pains never leave but soften, and we keep moving forward.

A Glimpse Ahead

I have a life that is more beautiful than I deserve. God has been faithful to me through it all—not because of who I am, but despite it. I am blessed with family, friends, and a life that is rich with memories. I am seen. and valued.

So today, as a gift for my birthday, I offer you this: a glimpse ahead.

Life feels like a marathon in the beginning, but in the end, it feels more like a sprint. Every moment counts. One day, those moments will become the most valuable things you own. Live each one fully. Choose a life that excites you for tomorrow, no matter what today holds.

Psalm 146:2, “I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

If you woke up this morning, God still has a plan for you. So live it.

June 17, 2025June 7, 2025

The Answer I Didn’t Expect

Answered Prayer The answer I didn’t expect was created because it wasn’t within my design.

I asked for Strength, God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom; God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for Courage, God gave me difficulties to overcome.
I asked for Love, God gave me troubled people to help.

James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Missed Answers

When I first read this quote, it stopped me. Not because it was profound, which it is, but because it held a mirror to my own life. For years, I have prayed for strength, wisdom, courage, and love. But I didn’t always recognize the answers when they came. Sometimes, they appeared as an inconvenience; other times, as a hardship. And often, they showed up wearing the face of someone in need.

Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”

“Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don’t.” – Max Lucado.

It’s easy to assume that when we ask God for something good, the answer will be immediate and obvious—a clear path, a burst of energy, a wise insight at just the right time. But more often, God works through the long road. He doesn’t hand us strength like a tool; He gives us opportunities to become strong. And that usually means facing difficulty, struggle, and pain— the kind that tests our resolve and stretches our soul until we feel like snapping.

Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Answers Refined through Fire

I’ve worked among people who have very little by the world’s standards—materially, economically, and politically. And yet they are some of the wealthiest people I’ve known. Why? Because they live lives filled with difficulty that have taught them endurance, humility, and generosity. They don’t ask for an easy life. They ask for the grace to keep going. They don’t quote books, they live wisdom.

God’s answers are rarely what I imagined. When I asked for wisdom, I found myself in rooms where I didn’t understand the language or the culture, trying to solve problems I didn’t create. When I asked for courage, I was sent into uncertain territory, sometimes physically, often spiritually. And when I asked for love, I was given the chance to care for people whose needs and pain made me uncomfortable, people who challenged my assumptions, interrupted my plans, and needed more than I thought I could give.

1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

Answers Disguised as Burdens

In those moments, I’ve learned something important: God’s blessings often come disguised as burdens. And in serving others, especially the “troubled people” the quote mentions, I’ve discovered not only love but the very heart of God.

Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

This quote isn’t a feel-good slogan; it’s a map, a pattern, a reminder that the life of faith isn’t about avoiding pain or staying comfortable—it’s about transformation. We are forged in the fire of difficulty, not destroyed by it. We grow through the problems we’re called to solve. We find courage not in the absence of fear, but in facing it with purpose. And we learn to love by pouring ourselves out for others, especially those the world has forgotten.

True Blessings

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or underprepared, take heart. Perhaps you’re not failing; maybe you’re in the middle of an answered prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

April 22, 2025March 15, 2025

Blessed are the Merciful

Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Mercy: “Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” We live in a dog-eat-dog world: competition and the desire to get ahead are hammering at us from all directions. We don’t always see someone else as someone we can harm, we see them as just another meat popsicle in a world of meat popsicles. Compassion and kindness is something you want, not something you give.

That sounds harsh, but it is how most people view life. Showing mercy should mean doing what is right, not what you have the right to do. It means not being constrained by legalism.

What is Mercy?

Mercy is being kind to the grump next door. It lets someone else have the last sandwich, cookie, or pie. Mercy shows grace to someone wrong but whose bias shields them from the truth. It is taking the time to listen when it is your turn to talk. Mercy is not overpowering someone with your force of will but using gentle persuasion. Mercy is remarkably patient and kind.

Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Each of us is given a position of leadership. That could mean setting an example for siblings, raising children, heading a household, or holding a position of authority. From time to time, we are given the power to control others. How do we use that power? Do we use it as an opportunity to serve and be an example, or is our life so hectic and chaotic that we want the shortest path from point A to point B? Worse yet, have people controlled us with power, so we use our power as an opportunity to get back in control?

Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Being Merciful

Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

“Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.” — Anonymous.

Being merciful and being meek are interrelated. We talked about meekness and God’s desire for us to approach each interaction with a sense of humility. Humility is the foundation of mercy. Once we understand that we are saved through God’s mercy, through no effort of our own, then we can extend that same attitude toward others.

Psalm 40:11, “Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.”

Can we expect compassion and kindness when we do not extend it to others? We, as Christians, are an extension of God’s kingdom here on earth. How can we expect to receive something ourselves if we do not give it to others? Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. – Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes