Waves of Mercy

Japan, like so many others, is a nation shaped by the sea. From the quiet coves of Kyushu to the rugged cliffs of Hokkaido, the coastline stretches for thousands of miles. Anyone who has stood on a beach anywhere in the world has felt the rhythm of the waves—steady, gentle, and unending.

That natural rhythm provides an image for the mercy of God. Just as the shoreline is touched again and again by the sea, our lives are continually touched by His compassion and long-suffering.

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”— Lamentations 3:22–23, KJV

God’s mercy doesn’t ebb and flow like human kindness. It arrives with the dependable regularity of the tide—renewed each morning, steadfast through every season.

Mercy for Our Failures

One of the clearest pictures of God’s mercy is found in Peter’s story. Though Peter promised loyalty, he denied the Lord three times at the time of the crucifixion. Many would expect rejection or condemnation—but not Jesus.

Instead, the risen Christ gently restored him and told him the following words:

“Feed my lambs… Feed my sheep.”— John 21:15–17, KJV

Peter’s story reminds us that God’s mercy meets us even when we disappoint Him. He does not cast us aside. When we repent, He is ready to lift us, forgive us, and equip us to continue His work.

Mercy in Suffering

God’s mercy is not only seen in forgiveness but also in sustaining grace. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is a good example. When he pleaded for relief, God did not remove the trial—but He did provide something far better:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”— 2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV

Mercy does not always come in the form of deliverance. Sometimes it comes in the form of strength to endure, and hope that refuses to fade.

Mercy for the Lost and Wandering

Jonah’s story takes the image even further. He ran from God, ignored His command, and even acted resentfully toward God’s compassion on the city of Nineveh when He was told to go preach to them. Yet the Lord spared him from the storm, saved him from the depths, and gave him another opportunity to obey.

Jonah eventually declared:

“Salvation is of the LORD.”— Jonah 2:9, KJV

God’s mercy has the power to reach those who are running, doubting, or completely unaware of their need for Him. His compassion extends farther than our mistakes and deeper than our fears.

Mercy Revealed in Christ

Every wave of mercy in Scripture ultimately points toward the greatest expression of mercy —The works of Jesus Christ.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”— Romans 5:8, KJV

At the cross, Jesus absorbed the full weight and became the atonement for our sin. At the tomb, He broke the power of death. Through His resurrection, His mercy flows freely to all who obey Him.

Just as the waves continue their steady advance across the shores of the world, God continues to pour out mercy on His people—new every morning, patient in every season, and freely offered to all who seek Him. He desires that every soul come to repentance, salvation, and a restored relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

Yet Scripture also teaches that God’s mercy, though abundant, will not remain open forever. A day is coming when time will end and judgment will begin.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”— Hebrews 9:27, KJV

Because of that certainty, God lovingly calls every person to respond to His mercy now—while it is still offered, while the door of grace remains open. The Gospel plan of salvation is not complicated; it is God’s simple pathway into the safety of Christ:

• Hear the word of God (Romans 10:17)

• Believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24)

• Repent of sins (Luke 13:3)

• Confess Christ before others (Romans 10:9–10)

• Be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16)

• Live faithfully unto Him (Revelation 2:10)

This is not man’s plan, but God’s. It is how we wade into the sea of mercy Jesus offers.

For those who obey the Gospel, His mercy becomes an anchor—steady, reliable, and eternal. For those who delay, Scripture urges urgency:

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”— 2 Corinthians 6:2, KJV

Mercy flows like an unending tide today. But one day the waves will stop, and every soul will stand before the Lord. Now—while God’s compassion still washes across your life—is the time to surrender to Him, obey the Gospel, and walk in the peace and hope only Christ can give.

: by Justin Evergarden