Mercy
Rea Wilhite
“Friend
of Mercy”
Dispensing
compassion upon observing a lowly physical state compels the compassion of God
to be magnified. Mercy, in the simplistic and broadest meaning, is the
bestowing of some form of compassion or kindness due to the physical condition
of the party. The name “Mercy” serves an Ebenezer for a specific time in our
relationship. How many of us can honestly peer into our past and point to
specific moments and, with great confidence, say, “God was working there.” Predominantly
found in the OT, memorial stones (i.e, an Ebenezer) were set up to remind the
future generation of God’s deliverance, acts of providence, etc. They
predominantly served as a teaching reminder to the people. “Mercy” is our
Ebenezer.
When
compared to other people, circumstances, and forms of suffering, individualized
heartache can seem to be minimized. All accounts or experiences of trials are
so packaged and uniquely given to His people, they seem to be sovereignly
designed for the recipient and no one else. Though we have family, friends, and
acquaintances undergoing far greater pain and incomparable circumstances, the
Lord designed to bestow His mercy and faithfulness to us in a unique way.
There
was a time, though not very far back, where the darkness of tribulations was
unceasing. As the end of the month approached, I would incessantly look at the
downcast and disheartened portrait of my wife. With overt joy and longings, my
wife, with a healthy yearning, desired a child. Simultaneous to these monthly
encounters, a steady barrage of irreconcilable events, comments, and
relationships seemed to castigate my soul.
However,
through these times, we had the unequivocal resolve to search and find joy in God.
I was greatly reminded and sustained by two main passages during this period of
our marriage. The first was the passage that was read at our wedding, Habakkuk
3.17–19. Near the end our engagement and throughout our marriage thus far,
Allyson and I have sought to place the great depths of this passage before our
gaze.
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be
on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the
flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will
rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord,
is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high
places.
Our
joy consists of God and having God as our own and having YHWH serve as our
redeemer, not our condition.
A second
passage that brought sustenance during this stint was Jude 17–25. And in my
humble opinion, this is one of the richest doxologies in the New Testament.
But you must remember,
beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to
you, “in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly
passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in
the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who
doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with
fear, hating even the garment stained by flesh.
Now to him who is able to
keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his
glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our
Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and
forever. Amen.
There
are multiple calls to resolve, to building your faith, to abide in the love of
God, to extend mercy to others, to await the return of our Lord, but it is all
to Him who is able to assure steadfast footing, it is all to Him that reassures
our blameless appearing before him, and all this is done for the display of His
glory and will provide Him great joy.
The
timing of our pregnancy was bar none, a providential event due to the external
timing of other, unrelated, surrounding affairs. The temporary darkness was
beginning to wane upon the horizon of forthcoming changes. But standing here
now, as we peer into the rearview mirror of providential history, it is nothing
more than timely.
When
Allyson and I were sitting in the hospital room, awaiting an ultra-sound to
find out the gender, we were thrilled, nervous, and scared. The moment the
doctor told us we were having a girl, I had been muddling over Jude 17–25 in my
mind and had decided to re-read this sustaining passage. My eyes hit “Mercy” in
v.21 and they filled up with tears. That was it, I thought, “Mercy” is it. Not
only are we still awaiting the return of God’s mercy (i.e., Christ’s return),
but also in looking upon our heartache, he has finally acted in our favor and
in our condition by providing Mercy to us.
Her
middle name, Rea, is taken from the Hebrew phonetic spelling of “Friend.” And
it is now like an old time friend, we have been reacquainted with the
compassion and kindness of God. And therefore we have chosen to name our little
girl, whether she is carried to full-term or not, Mercy Rea; for, she has been
our memorial in our re-familiarity with Mercy.
