Through God's Mercies

God's mercies are new every morning,
Therefore I am not crushed;
He makes rest possible 
Even when life feels rushed.
His grip on us is tighter when things get rough,
And He promises over and over that His grace is enough–
Enough to endure,
Enough to rejoice,
Enough to silently pray
When hope doesn't feel secure,
When sorrows steal our joy,
When there doesn't seem to be a way
Out of the mess 
That leaves us feeling depressed, oppressed, hard-pressed, and distressed.

In the dumpster fire of life, God looks at us,
Though we may be piles of ashes and dust,
And He says to us,
"You are precious,
And you are Mine.
I will not leave you nor forsake you." Not now, not any time

"I will not forsake you," His Word declares,
But those words sometimes feel like they're hanging in air,
That is polluted by doubt, death, and despair.
"I will not leave you." Those words still ring loud and clear
Despite the fears,
Despite the tears,
Despite the noise that plugs our ears,
Despite the misfortunes and regrets that have consumed our years.

Oh, but God, it is so hard
When our sin and pain have marred
Our remembrance of who You are
And the sense of how close You really are!
Sometimes You feel as far
As the distant shooting stars.
But chaotic feelings, though they have made things fall apart,
Cannot separate us from Your beating heart.

And that heart once broke under the weight of sin, 
Absorbing all wrath and condemnation,
Bursting under the pressing of Gethsemane's depression,
Suffering from the countless unspeakable burdens,
Torn from the agony of Heaven's separation
Caused by choices that led to desolation!
Your heart bled out to secure our salvation,
And to soothe our anguish with Your comfort and compassion.

It's through Your mercies that we are not consumed by this life,
because You gave Your heart to be crushed 
When, for us, You stepped in and stepped up.
But that's not even the final note, no that wasn't enough:
Your broken heart also conquered the evil that makes existence tough!
You paid a high price
To save my life
And make it worth living!
Your mercies are new each day
Because You say 
That You make all things beautiful in time,
And that includes the night seasons in our bodies and in our minds.

I am not crushed or consumed
Because God holds me close to His merciful heart and whispers,
"I will never leave you."
Therefore the story–no matter how bleak it seems–isn't through!
Yes, through His mercies, you and I are not consumed…