Saint Ignatius teaches us that, in times of spiritual desolation, we ought to remember the consolations that we have experienced and so gain strength and courage to face all difficulties. The prophet Micah takes a similar approach: in the midst of difficulties he prays that God will once more show mercy and kindness to Israel. He can pray in confidence because no matter what difficulties he and the people face, there is always the memory of the Exodus to remind them that God does not persist in anger forever but delights rather in clemency and is forever a liberating God.

Devotion to the Divine Mercy began spreading in the Church especially since the canonization of Sister Faustina and so appears to be something new. But, of course, if it is a true devotion, it must have its origin in God's revelation in Scripture and in tradition. The doctrine of God's mercy is commonplace already in the Old Testament and pervades the doctrine of Jesus. Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son can be seen as a commentary on different expressions of the Prophets and Psalmist, such as the words of Micah: God does not persist in anger forever but delights rather in clemency.