Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.  

Today, Angela Vandagriff reminds us of the power of God’s mercy, especially in our struggles and doubts. 

“...keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt...” (Jude 1:21-22 ESV). 

Raised in church during the '60s and '70s, I saw little mercy extended towards those who questioned the Word of God. My church often shunned people who opposed their views. Segregation was real, and if you weren’t part of the "right" denomination, you weren’t saved.  

Sadly, I learned more about legalism and judgment than I did mercy. I was scared of God, and I was left confused and unable to surrender to Him completely. However, with age came wisdom, but that wisdom often came from sin and regret. As I experienced God's mercy and His longsuffering toward me, I began to open my heart, allowing Him in.  

With each season of my life, I've had to surrender to God the struggles I've faced. He replaced the struggles with gifts of mercy. As a recipient of God’s never-ending mercy, I am more aware of the brokenness and shame in those around me, enabling me to extend genuine mercy and love to others.  

Today’s scripture reminds us that the key to eternal life is the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to diligently keep ourselves in the love of God and to extend mercy and long suffering to those who struggle and doubt, allowing our actions toward them to reflect Jesus within us.  

If left unattended, our struggles and doubts can become spiritual blinders, hindering us from seeing our spiritual gifts. God uses our struggles as tools to help minister to those around us. Jesus lives in us, and people will see Him in us when we use our gifts as an outward show of love.   

Is God asking you to surrender a struggle to strengthen a spiritual gift? Surrendering will allow God's love to shine through you, touching someone who desperately needs to see Him. 

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com