MERITS, MERCY, AND GRACE
My errant acts
Became an irritant to my peace
And over time were magnified
Until I sued for release
What I once chose to prefer
Now weighs heavily on my soul
At times it feels suffocating
And erodes my hope of becoming whole
I try to check myself
I try to turn around
But my past seems to control me now
Like massive chains, it keeps me bound
No matter how hard I try
No matter how much I want to change
My misery remains intact
My life, I simply cannot rearrange
Until at last
My hope nears its final breath
I resign myself to the ugly truth
I cannot escape my inevitable death
In the throes of its remaining hours
I’m stunned by the enormity of my pain
I’m constrained to consider one last thing
To soothe my torment like a gentle rain
I’m unable to deny how weak I am
How helpless to break my bands
All my efforts have proved fruitless
I’m in need of stronger hands
As this brutal realization
Begins to take root in my heart
I wonder who could help me now
Who could possibly give me a new start
Is there such a one
Who could wash away my stain
Free me from my past
And relieve this horrible pain
It would take far more than mortal help
To make all my wrongs be right
How could all those I’ve wronged
Be recompensed for my blight
I’m in need of one mighty and strong
One whose power is great
I’m in need of one who is also merciful
For it’s justice I need to abate
But why would one so powerful
Simply choose to rescue me
To do all that I need done
To come and set me free
What could possibly set me apart
From all the others likewise enslaved
Unless all are treated alike
And anyone can be saved
Could there be a Savior
One who is mighty and strong
Whose mercy rescues from justice
All who will sing His redemptive song
It was His perfect life
The submission to His Father’s will
That qualifies Him to pay my price
His divine commission to fulfill
For it was His blood freely offered
It was His life freely sacrificed
That breaks the bands of sin and death
Indeed this is the Christ!
Salvation is His song
Redemption His merciful gift
Relief from sin His sacred salve
His loving desire is only to lift
It was His matchless love for us
That led Him to interpose
To offer beauty for our ashes
And deliverance from our woes
He stills the cries of the offended
Yet offers redemption to the one who offends
Who perfectly balances justice and mercy
All to His Father’s eternal ends
This is the Christ
The Son of the living God
Descended from a throne above
To save all who are fatally flawed
His holy grace is engaged
By my will to love and follow Him
He lifts me when I cannot stand
And guides me when my eyes are dim
My errant acts
Once a feared enemy of mine
Are now extinguished by His gift of peace
And my guilt swallowed up in His grace divine
This was written under the direction of personal inspiration on Monday, August 2, 2021 early in the morning. It was inspired by a talk given by Elder Kyle S. McKay titled, “There Must Needs Be a Christ.”