Hi Love,
I hope you had a good day today and found a little time to enjoy the outdoors and recharge. We spent part of the day at a friend’s farm, walking around the property and visiting with the animals. While we were there, I couldn’t help but think about how peaceful it feels to be surrounded by God’s creation. It really is the simple things in life that bring the most joy.
We also spent some time visiting with a friend and during the course of conversation she mentioned the verse Jude 1:22-23, which brought up some thoughts about how important it is to show mercy to those who are struggling. That verse really challenged me to think deeper about what mercy truly looks like. I realized that it’s not just about being kind. Kindness is a start, but there is much more to it.
“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” — Jude 1:22-23
I began reflecting on how sometimes mercy means taking the time to really see someone, asking the Lord for discernment, and then loving them in a way that meets their real need, and not just what’s on the surface. It’s not always easy, because in some cases showing love means surrendering it to God and allowing others to face the consequences. But God keeps reminding me that what matters most is helping hearts find their way back to Him, even when it’s difficult to understand from our point of view.
As I was reflecting, I remembered something from a few nights ago while I was praying and spending time with the Lord. He led me to the book of Obadiah in the Old Testament. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read it before. It’s intense, and it really does put the fear of God in you. One thing that stood out to me was the pride of Edom. They felt so secure, so untouchable, but their pride was leading them straight to destruction. It gave me a better understanding of God’s perspective on how we treat one another, especially the people He’s placed in our lives. God sees every time we turn away from someone out of pride, offense, or indifference. Every silent moment when we could have spoken up. He sees the cracks in relationships we’ve let widen instead of repair. He notices it all.
And if we’re honest, we’ve all done this in one way or another. But even in His judgment, God’s heart is always for healing and restoration. When He allows correction, it’s not to punish us just for the sake of it. It’s to bring us back, and to make us whole again. I was reminded of that verse in Hosea 6:1: “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.”
God then led me to Acts 13:9-12:
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
That’s another intense moment in Scripture. Reading it reminded me how layered God’s love really is. Yes, He’s full of mercy, but He also takes sin very seriously. And Paul didn’t just bring healing, he also stepped into moments of judgment when the Spirit led him to. Both were expressions of God’s love, just in different forms.
It brought me back to the verse in Jude, where we’re told to show mercy to some, and to others we’re told to save them with fear by pulling them out of the fire. Not all hearts are reached the same way. Some need gentleness, while others need bold truth. And we need discernment to know the difference. Paul showed that kind of discernment, and we’re called to the same. We are called to be people who love deeply, who are led by the Spirit, and who aren’t afraid to speak truth with mercy, even when it’s hard. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about leading people back to God.
God’s refining fire isn’t easy. Sometimes it feels messy and uncomfortable, like everything familiar is being stripped away. It can be hard to let go of things we’ve been holding onto or to face the parts of ourselves we’d rather ignore. But through it all, He’s shaping us. He’s burning away what’s not from Him so that what’s left is something stronger, steadier, and more like Jesus.
I’m praying for you in this season. I know things may feel heavy or even impossible right now, but there is no impossible with Jesus. I’ve been reminding myself to keep counting my blessings. Because even in the hardest moments, there’s still so much to be thankful for. God’s love will always stay, and we can rest in the hope that He’s still writing a beautiful future for us. Remember you’re not alone, and there are better days coming.
So if you’re feeling unsure, tired, or like you don’t have the words — just put your hands up. Surrender it to God. He’s not asking for perfection, just a willing heart.
I love you.
Jeanie
P.S. I was thinking about how fire needs oxygen to keep burning. And in the same way, so do we. The fire God lights in us needs space to breathe. When we stop holding everything so tightly, we give Him room to move. Sometimes that “oxygen” is prayer, worship, community, letting go, or simply resting in His presence. But without it, the flame starts to die out. I pray we stay open to what He’s doing, even when the process feels hard.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6