Nicole's brother Chad turned 13 on Sunday.  As one part of the celebration, CJ asked some friends and family members to send Chad a letter to encourage him and challenge him in his faith.

One of the letters was from David Powlison; the GirlTalkers felt that this letter is so edifying and so encouraging, that they posted it yesterday for the benefit of many others.  Parents, this is a wonderful model of how to encourage and exhort your kids to grow by showing them the grace and glory of Jesus Christ.

I want to encourage you to read the entire letter, but here is an excerpt to get you started:

There are many things I could mention to you, Chad, but let me say only two.  They are so important to remember, and so easy to forget.  

First, don’t ever forget:  God is merciful to you. Mercy is who he is.  “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).  Mercy is what he does. “If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him over for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32). Mercy is what you need. “Lord, hear my voice…If you, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared” (Psalm 130:3-4). God’s mercy is not a theory, a bunch of words, or stories from a long time ago.  It is the reality upon which your life depends.  Mercy is a reality that anchors you into the life and death of Jesus Christ.  He has come for us.  He has come for you.  You need help from outside yourself.  Ask for help.

Second, don’t ever forget: your whole life will be a work-in-progress. This is so freeing.  Your successes and graces (and may God give you many ways to shine, Chad) will never mean you’ve arrived.  These are good gifts of mercy, to be received gratefully.  Don’t take good things for granted, or view them as a basis for identity or self-congratulation.  At the same time, your sins, failure and sufferings (and such things will happen, and may be painfully discouraging) never mean that there is no hope.  These are the weaknesses that make you realize your actual need for the wise mercies of Jesus.  Your life will shine as you realize that God has given you this life as a lifelong holy experiment in becoming what a human being is meant to become.  “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).  That will be so for your entire life.
 

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