The Persistent Mercy Of God

Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22–23

Francis Thompson was a nineteenth-century English poet who failed at early ventures and ended up destitute until taken in by a benefactor who was impressed with his poetry. “The Hound of Heaven” is his most famous work, telling of God’s persistent pursuit of him until finally Thompson surrendered to His love.

“Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest,” says the Hound of Heaven to the object of His pursuit. The persistent mercy of God is what captured the poet’s heart.

God’s relentless grace is also what saved Lot in the wicked city of Sodom. Before God judged the city, He gave Lot repeated opportunities to escape. Lot, his wife, and two daughters were finally dragged—kicking and screaming, as it were—from the city of sin. God’s mercy was greater than Lot’s own spiritual reasonableness, as is often the case with us as well.

Only heaven will tell how many times God has saved us from ourselves by working harder at our salvation and deliverance than we did. Have you thanked God recently for His persistent mercy?

Fortunately, our resistance is not as great as God’s persistence.