Compass Living in Confusing Times

Living in a sweet spot used to be more commonplace. Conversations quickly jump to discussions of real issues in the world, and it is hard not to—well, stress. But our addiction to worry destroys what God intends for us. You see, sweet spot living is available today, and it’s God’s plan for us to go from mercy to mercy to mercy.

This week on my YouTube channel, we talk about the covering of God in stressful times.

God has a place for us now, where we can stretch out and be explorers once again. Like our boundless childhood imagination, God’s covering operates in much the same way.

The King James Version of Psalm 32 verse 10b says “ …he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.”

Compass. Hmmm. Are you wondering if you know the full meaning of the word compass? I did too! It surely has more meaning than an instrument used for direction at sea or on land. I looked it up to find out.

AND IT DOES!

Compass comes from the meaning of a limitless boundary. If you hold a compass in your hand, it can guide you wherever you want to go. If God is compassing us, we have unlimited help.

Here are a few ways this works.

He will lead you in times of distress or worry.
He will walk with you.
He is at your side, behind you, and in front of you.
He can show you wisdom to apply or what to avoid.
He can change a situation or set another in motion.

No matter life’s pressures, God marks the boundary lines for us to walk. Do you realize the devil wants to limit you? He wants to place a suffocating boundary of fear and worry over you.

Isn’t it funny how people think living for God is limiting when the reality is he has so much for you? Are you confused? Hang on.

We need to look at one more word in that verse, mercy. Picture this, God is unlimited guidance. As he guides us through our painful situations that can create more stress or worry he hands us mercy after mercy.

The verse says, “… mercy shall compass …” us. To be clear, we are surrounded by his mercies.

What is mercy? It is a feeling or state of mind? It can create good feelings and soundness of our thoughts. Mercy is God overlooking every error on our part and the arrows sent in our direction by the devil. God stretches his favor toward you in the middle of all the muck with his overarching favor.

It may look like a coincidence.
It may look like a text from a distant friend to say they are praying for you.
It may look like a new job opportunity.
It may look like pouring over scripture at night and being able to take your first deep breath of the day.

That is God at work. We do NOT need to fear because he has mercy for us in the center of life’s burdens.

God’s mercy will show up in unique ways for each of your life situations. Keep looking to him, seeking his boundaries of protection, and you will recognize his mercy again and again. Hopefully, you begin to recognize it as commonplace with a childlike wonder.

Point God’s mercy out to someone you know, then they too can start seeing it in their life.

I would love to hear how God has extended mercy in your life lately! Please share in the comments. Let’s thank God for his unbound direction and mercy!