Devotions: Misunderstood Compassion

If your sons sinned against Him,
Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.

If you would seek God
And implore the compassion of the Almighty,
If you are pure and upright,
Surely now He would rouse Himself for you
And restore your righteous estate.

Job 8:4-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The calamity of Job was greater than many ever experience. He lost all of his possessions and all of his children in one day. In an effort to console him, his friends joined him in his sorrow. After a week of compassionate silence, they began to chide him for the wrongs they imagined he had committed. They were neither kind, just nor correct.

I mention this verse because, while it is erroneous, it is a view many have, and they try to condole in the same manner. It was common, and still is, to believe that the good are rewarded and wicked are punished. If a person was good their life would be easy and prosperous, but if a person suffered they must have done something wrong. It was also assumed that a person could earn or deserve compassion or mercy if they were good, but not if they had sinned. These views are entirely unbiblical. The whole point of mercy is that it is undeserved. We could never earn God’s grace or love. In fact, we deserve much worse than we ever get. That is mercy. God has compassion on those whom He chooses. No one deserves it.

If you think that you have gone too far, that you could never possibly be good enough to earn God’s love, grace or compassion, the truth is you can’t, but you don’t have to. He will give it any way, simply ask. If you think that you are suffering because God is punishing you, or hates you, that is false. It may be discipline of some kind, but it may not. The good and the wicked suffer alike. Rather than feeling condemned, ask God to search your life to see if there is any hidden sin which you need to repent. And take heart, He will forgive and bestow compassion readily. If there is nothing, take heart all the same, for you are in His hands. He will not abandon you or allow you to be overtaken. Trust in His goodness and sovereignty as Job and wait for the Lord’s compassion and mercy. It will come.