I was recently blessed with an opportunity to visit Mercy Ministries in St. Louis. To be honest, I didn’t know much about it. I Googled it to learn the basics, but I wasn’t prepared for the impact it would have on me.

I pulled into the parking lot in front of a beautiful building, and I was reminded…God surprises us with splendor around every turn of our lives. We have to be willing to follow the directions of his will to fully experience what he has for us. 

I was welcomed by warm, smiling faces of young women ready and willing to show me where to go next, and I was reminded…God has an open door policy. Anyone is welcome at anytime.

I walked through the lunch line and assembled a beautiful and healthy salad, and I was reminded…God nourishes us. We have choices of what we feed ourselves. We can choose healthy, sustaining nourishment of truth or temporarily filling of falsehoods.

I sat at a lunch table and talked with a couple young women who shared the basic details of their lives, and I was reminded…God creates each of us with uniqueness and pursues each of us with intense passion.

I heard the story of Mercy Ministries and Nancy Alcorn, and I was reminded…the potential impact we have for God when we simply serve him. God asks for obedience, and when we step out in faith, the ripples of our choices are carried far, deep and wide.

I listened to two young women share their specific stories, and I was reminded…God is merciful. God is present. God is active. God is.

I walked through the beautiful home, and I was reminded…God abundantly provides.

I saw the well-loved stuffed animals propped on the neatly-made beds. I thought of details of girls’ lives each of those stuffed animals had survived, and I was reminded…God gives us the support, encouragement, courage, and strength we need when we need it. We have to grab onto it.

I watched a girl’s eyes fill with tears while she expressed a struggle as well as hope, and I was reminded…there is no balance in life without God. Only God’s perspective can reveal the truth of ourselves, our experiences, and our futures.

I heard about a staff person’s journey to Mercy, and I was reminded…God is the best choreographer.

I saw passion, hurt, healing, hope, struggles, joy and hope at Mercy.

I saw myself in the young women at Mercy. I saw my daughters in the young women at Mercy.

Most important, I saw God.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16