What is 'mercy'? The Latin root of the word means, literally, “misery of the heart." This speaks of a person who feels for those who are in misery, afflicted, or sorrowful, and acts to help remedy those individuals. In Jesus, we have the ultimate example of this through his suffering, death, and resurrection. Who needs mercy? We all do! We all have sinned and need to admit our faults (repent). Remember: God loves us beyond our comprehension, and he will not condemn us when we humble ourselves before him. He does not desire to destroy you, but lift you up and heal you with his mercy.