Finding Grace in Difficult Relationships

In the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches us that “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” This powerful statement reveals a fundamental spiritual principle that shapes how we should interact with others, even those who have wronged us.

What Does It Mean to Be “Blessed”?

When Jesus says “blessed are you,” He’s describing who we already are, not prescribing who we might become. To be blessed means:

• Having room in our lives for God
• Being open to receive what the Lord provides
• Acknowledging we don’t have everything figured out
• Having space in our hearts for God’s work

Being blessed isn’t about having everything the world offers, but rather being willing to receive what God provides. It’s about recognizing our need for God and making space for Him in our lives.

What Is Mercy?

Mercy can be defined as “showing compassion or forgiveness when you have the power to punish or harm.” This definition reveals something important: mercy comes from a position of power or authority. You can only show mercy when you have the ability to do otherwise.

When God shows mercy, He “withholds punishment that we rightfully deserve because of our sin.” His loving kindness leads Him to extend grace rather than judgment.

David and Saul: A Powerful Example of Mercy

The story of David and Saul in 1 Samuel 24 provides a compelling illustration of mercy in action. Despite having every justification to harm Saul, who had repeatedly tried to kill him, David chose mercy instead.

When David found Saul vulnerable in a cave:

• He had the perfect opportunity to kill his enemy
• His men encouraged him to take Saul’s life
• He had justification based on Saul’s previous actions
• Instead, he merely cut off a piece of Saul’s robe

David’s conscience troubled him even for this small act. He recognized Saul as “the Lord’s anointed” and refused to harm him, despite having every opportunity and reason to do so.

Why Should We Show Mercy?

The principle is simple but profound: “Show mercy. You’ve received it in the past, and you will need it in the future.”

David showed mercy to Saul without knowing that later in his life, he would desperately need God’s mercy after his sin with Bathsheba. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David repented, and “the Lord took away his sin.” The mercy he had shown was returned to him when he needed it most.

This spiritual principle appears throughout Scripture:

• “Whatever a man sows, he will reap” (Galatians 6:7)”
• He who sows bountifully will reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6)
• “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12)
• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12)
• “Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me” (Matthew 25)

The Cycle of Mercy

“What goes around comes around” isn’t just a saying—it’s a spiritual truth. When we extend mercy to others, we participate in God’s economy of grace. We create a cycle where mercy flows both to and from us.

This doesn’t mean we show mercy only to receive it later. Rather, we show mercy because that’s who we are as children of God. We’ve experienced God’s mercy, and that transforms how we treat others.

Life Application

Showing mercy isn’t always easy, especially when we feel justified in our anger or desire for revenge. Yet Christ calls us to a higher standard—to extend the same grace to others that we’ve received from Him.

This week, consider these questions:

1. Where in your life do you need to show mercy to someone who has wronged you?
2. How has God shown you mercy in the past?
3. How might remembering this help you extend mercy to others?
4. In what situations do you find it hardest to show mercy? Why?
5. How might your relationships change if you approached conflicts with mercy rather than judgment?

Challenge yourself to identify one relationship or situation where you can show mercy this week. It might be forgiving someone who hurt you, extending grace to someone who doesn’t “deserve” it, or simply withholding judgment when you have the power to condemn. Remember, blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Sermon video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzMLr1bOgro

[Blog post created by Sermon Shots from original sermon content preached by Rev. Kent F. Jackson on August 3, 2025.]