Devotional thoughts on Romans 9:6-18

By Mike Berry

I’ve often thought, I don’t deserve all of these blessings. I mean it. I’ve done far more things wrong in my life than I have right. A few mornings ago, I woke up early, found my spot in a chair in our hallway, sipped my coffee, and got lost in thought.

As I glanced around, at our beautiful home where my amazing family gets to dwell, our pets sleeping soundly on the floor beneath my feet, the sunrise making a slow ascent over the trees now filled with foliage, the thought overwhelmed me and I prayed—“I’m so undeserving, but only by your mercy, God, you have given this all to me.”

Why Me?

I don’t know how much you think about things like this, but I often reflect on the blessings of life. By blessings, I don’t mean all the amazing material stuff I have (I live in small house, drive used cars, and hang on to T-shirts and jeans for an absurd number of years). I’m talking about life. The oxygen flowing in and out of my lungs. This family who sticks it out with me even when I’m unworthy. Most of all, a heavenly Father who has never walked away from me, and still continues to descend into the wreckage of my life.

Why do some receive health, peace, and the resources they need, and others don’t? That’s a question I have. While I’m grateful that I have been given so much in this world, I often wonder, “Why me? I didn’t do anything to deserve this.” And neither did you. We’re all a bunch of mess-ups, living under grace, receiving mercy that we did nothing to deserve.

Forever Grateful

That is the point. We did nothing to deserve God’s mercy, and yet he gave it freely to us. He gives it to us every day, in fact. There are some in this world who cry out for help, cry out for mercy, and they never receive it (at least not in a physical sense). But even in our darkest moments, when all hope seems lost, we are recipients of the greatest gift of all: grace.

We live under the mercy of a Father who loves us lavishly. May we be forever grateful and live accordingly.

Mike Berry is an author, public speaker, adoptive father, and former foster parent. He travels the country sharing hope with hurting parents. He and his wife, Kristin, created the blog confessionsofanadoptiveparent.com.