*God’s Mercy*

God’s mercy is not earned.

It finds us in the mess we tried to hide.

When we’re tired of pretending,

when the weight is too heavy to carry,

it meets us right there.

Mercy doesn’t shout _you should have known better_.

It whispers _come here, you’re still mine_.

It covers what we broke,

and calls it forgiven.

It takes the pieces we threw away

and makes them new.

It’s the sunrise after a long night.

It’s a second chance we didn’t deserve

but got anyway.

It’s patience when we fail again,

and love that doesn’t keep score.

God’s mercy is wider than our mistakes,

deeper than our shame,

and stronger than the voice that says _it’s too late_.

It doesn’t run out.

It keeps pouring —

like rain on dry ground,

like light through a cracked door.

So we breathe.

We stand.

We begin again.

Because mercy said our name first.