People & Songs + Micah Tyler + Joshua Sherman - What Mercy Did For Me Lyrics

Lyrics

I was hopeless
I knew i was lost
Death and Darkness were my only songs
I needed someone to come to rescue me
And mercy heard my plea

Lord, You found me
You healed me
You called me from the grave
You gave me your real love
I thank you Jesus
You washed my sins away
and now I'm living
Like I'm forgiven
You came to set me free
and that's what Your mercy did for me

You gave beauty for my guilty stains
and now I'm living day to day by His grace
so excuse me if I can't contain my praise
cause I know that I've been saved

And every morning mercy will restore me
I will proclaim
and even if the world may fall before me
I will proclaim

That's what Your mercy did for me

Video

What Mercy Did For Me [feat. Crystal Yates Micah Tyler Joshua Sherman]

Meaning & Inspiration

"What Mercy Did For Me," released on July 21, 2017, as part of *The Emerging Sound, Vol. 3* album by People & Songs, featuring Micah Tyler and Joshua Sherman, stands as a powerful testament to divine intervention and the transformative nature of God's grace. This song isn't just a collection of verses; it's a raw, honest narrative of spiritual awakening, echoing the universal human journey from despair to deliverance. Its strength lies in its profound lyrical message, which meticulously unpacks the depth of God’s active love and its radical impact on an individual’s life, making it a staple for anyone seeking encouragement or a deeper understanding of Christian faith.

The song immediately establishes a poignant contrast, opening with a portrayal of utter brokenness: "I was hopeless, I knew I was lost, Death and Darkness were my only songs." This vivid imagery captures the pre-conversion state, a spiritual wilderness where sin and separation from God felt like an inescapable reality. It resonates deeply with the scriptural truth found in Romans 3:23, which states that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and Ephesians 2:1, reminding us that we were once "dead in our transgressions and sins." The plea, "I needed someone to come to rescue me, And mercy heard my plea," beautifully encapsulates the cry of a soul recognizing its desperate need for salvation, a call that the compassionate heart of God unfailingly answers, as affirmed in Titus 3:5, where we are saved "not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

The chorus then explodes with the joy of rescue, detailing God's active pursuit and restoration: "Lord, You found me, You healed me, You called me from the grave." This declaration is a celebration of God's initiative in seeking out the lost, much like the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine for the one (Luke 15:4-7). The concept of being "called from the grave" powerfully symbolizes being raised from spiritual death to new life in Christ, mirroring the resurrection power that Romans 6:4 describes: "just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." The lines "You gave me your real love, I thank you Jesus, You washed my sins away" point directly to the atoning work of Christ on the cross (1 John 4:10) and the cleansing power of His blood (Acts 2:38, Colossians 1:14). This profound exchange leads to the triumphant outcome: "and now I'm living, Like I'm forgiven, You came to set me free," reflecting Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

The bridge of the song further amplifies this transformation, showcasing the radical shift from guilt to grace: "You gave beauty for my guilty stains, and now I'm living day to day by His grace." This echoes the promise of Isaiah 61:3, where God gives "beauty instead of ashes," a profound exchange that illustrates the completeness of His redemption. The overwhelming sense of gratitude erupts into uncontainable praise: "so excuse me if I can't contain my praise, cause I know that I've been saved." This isn't just a polite expression; it's an authentic, irrepressible overflow of worship, a natural response for anyone who has experienced the depth of God's mercy and understands the monumental truth of Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

The concluding verses extend this message beyond a singular event, emphasizing the continuous nature of God's mercy and the steadfast commitment to proclaim it. "And every morning mercy will restore me, I will proclaim," highlights the daily renewal found in God's faithfulness, reminding us of Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning." This daily restoration fuels a persistent evangelistic spirit, a resolve to share the good news regardless of external circumstances: "and even if the world may fall before me, I will proclaim." This unwavering dedication to spreading the message of Christ’s saving power is a call to all believers, rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and sustained by the assurance that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). "What Mercy Did For Me" serves as a powerful anthem of testimony, celebrating the transformative power of divine mercy, encouraging a life of freedom, praise, and unwavering proclamation for anyone who has experienced the profound grace of Jesus.