Slow To Anger And Abounding In Loving Kindness
The Leprosy Mission produces an internal daily devotional guide, The Bridge, for use in offices, hospitals, clinics and projects around the world. Current and former staff and trustees from many countries contribute to the guide. We will share with you contributions made by our staff team.
When I read Psalm 103 I cannot escape the overwhelming truth that God is completely gracious and compassionate towards me. He covers all of my weaknesses and failures with His forgiveness and grace. I am forever grateful that He is ‘slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness’. In our relationship, He truly lifts me up, and I need to remember how far He reaches down to catch me, and how high He wants to lift me.
Mixed into this amazing truth is the reassurance that ‘He Himself knows our frame’. Our God understands just how weak we are, He understands how frail our bodies can be, the physical struggles we face and the mental battles that can consume us. When we are at our lowest point, He understands; when we mess up again, He still understands. I am always encouraged to know that the weaknesses and failings I experience are not a surprise to God, and that He is still ‘slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness’ towards me.
As a father, I am always learning how to best love and encourage my 3 children. I often need to revise my ‘Parenting 101 Class’ when I am reminded for the thousandth time that when it comes to kids, one size does not fit all.
I need to remember how each one is wired; what each one finds encouraging, and what they may find harsh. I need to be mindful of what they are handling in life, at school, at church, at football training, with friends and with each other.
When I make the effort to understand my children better, I am equipped to change my behaviour. I can cover their particular weaknesses with grace, instead of bringing unrealistic expectation. I can reach out further to the one that is in difficulty or be considerate when one succeeds while another stumbles.
An even greater challenge is to be similarly gracious in all our relationships.
How great it is, that while we still have to work at this every day, our Heavenly Father never fails to understand us, or what we can bear. He is a truly compassionate Father, who understands our struggles and wants to lift us up when we fall.
He knows your frame, He is abounding in lovingkindness towards you, and He will never let you go.