When Mercy Feels Impossible, Remember This

Mercy is one of the most challenging virtues to practice, especially when we feel wronged. We live in a world that glorifies revenge, self-preservation, and getting even. Yet, Scripture calls us to something higher—a life that reflects God’s mercy.

In 1 Samuel 24, we see David face a moment that could have changed his life forever. He had the opportunity to kill King Saul, the man unjustly hunting him down. No one would have blamed him for striking Saul down, yet David chose mercy over revenge. From his example, we learn three powerful lessons about extending mercy to the undeserving.

Honor the Authority God Has Placed Over You—Even When It’s Hard

David had every reason to despise Saul. After all, Saul had thrown spears at him, hunted him, and sought to destroy him. Yet, when David found Saul vulnerable in a cave, instead of taking his life, he said:
“The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 24:6

David understood a critical truth: authority comes from God. Romans 13:1 reinforces this, stating, “There is no authority except that which God has established.” Even when leaders are unjust, even when they make decisions we don’t agree with, we are called to honor them.

What This Means for Us

We all encounter authority figures we struggle with—whether it’s a boss, a teacher, or even a government leader. The question is: How do we respond?

Do we complain and gossip?
Do we resist and disrespect?
Or do we trust that God is in control and honor the position, even if we don’t respect the person?

This doesn’t mean blind obedience to corruption or injustice, but it does mean trusting God’s timing and His justice instead of taking matters into our own hands.

It’s not easy to submit when we feel mistreated. But Pastor Alan Redpath once said:
“There is nothing, no trouble, no testing that can ever touch me until first it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose.”

David rested in God’s sovereignty, and we must do the same. He knew that if God had placed Saul in power, then God alone had the right to remove him. That kind of trust in God’s control is rare today, but it is essential for those who seek to follow Christ fully.

Choose Mercy Over Revenge

David had the perfect opportunity to kill Saul, but he refused. He told Saul:
“May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.” – 1 Samuel 24:12

This echoes Romans 12:19:
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

Mercy is Hard, But It’s Powerful

Let’s be real—mercy doesn’t come naturally. It’s much easier to get even. But mercy is stronger than revenge. When we choose mercy, we:

Break the cycle of pain – Revenge only perpetuates harm.
Show the world Christ’s love – Forgiveness points others to Jesus.
Experience freedom – Holding onto bitterness enslaves us; letting go frees us.

It’s easy to justify revenge, especially when the world tells us that standing up for ourselves means striking back. But Scripture teaches that real strength lies in showing mercy. Jesus didn’t call us to live according to the ways of the world—He called us to reflect Him.

A Real-Life Example of Radical Mercy

In 1987, Gordon Wilson and his 20-year-old daughter Marie were caught in a terrorist bombing in Northern Ireland. Trapped under debris, Gordon held Marie’s hand as she passed away.

Instead of hatred, Gordon stunned the world with these words:
“I have lost my daughter, but I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty talk is not going to bring her back to life. I will pray for these men tonight and every night.”

He spent the rest of his life working for peace and reconciliation. His mercy was a living example of Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:44:
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

This kind of mercy is not weakness—it’s strength. Mercy takes a heart fully surrendered to God, one that trusts that justice belongs to Him alone.

Reflect the Mercy of Christ

David’s mercy toward Saul was remarkable, but it was just a glimpse of the greater mercy found in Jesus.

David spared his enemy’s life.
Jesus gave His life for His enemies—you and me.

Romans 5:8 reminds us:
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

David held back his hand from judgment. Jesus stretched out His hands on the cross to bear the judgment we deserved.

Forgiven People Forgive

Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15:
“If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

This isn’t about earning forgiveness—it’s about recognizing that if we truly understand how much we’ve been forgiven, we will naturally extend that forgiveness to others.

Extending mercy doesn’t mean that injustice should go unchecked. There are times when wrongs must be addressed, but revenge isn’t the answer. God calls us to a different response—one that reflects His heart.

Trusting God’s Justice

Many of us resist mercy because we fear that if we let go of our anger, the wrongdoer will “get away with it.” But Scripture assures us: No one gets away with anything in the end.

God sees everything – “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” – Psalm 103:6
God will right every wrong – “‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,‘ says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19

When we understand this, we can release our grip on vengeance and trust that God’s justice is far better than ours. His justice is perfect, untainted by bias or flawed motives.

Think about it this way: if David had taken Saul’s life, would he have truly been at peace? Would he have been able to claim that he trusted God? David’s strength was in his restraint, in his willingness to let God be the Judge.

Final Challenge: Live Out Mercy

Mercy isn’t just an idea—it’s an action. So here’s the challenge:

Identify someone who has wronged you. Maybe a coworker, family member, or friend.
Choose mercy instead of revenge. Pray for them. Release resentment.
Trust God with the results. He is the ultimate judge.

We don’t have to carry the weight of vengeance on our shoulders. Jesus bore that burden for us. If we follow Him, we are called to be different.

David’s story points us to Jesus, who showed us the greatest mercy of all. If we claim to follow Him, let’s live it out by extending mercy to the undeserving.

Because when we do, we don’t just reflect David—we reflect Christ Himself.