God Delights in Showing Mercy
"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.” — Micah 7:18
No human being is perfect. Everyone sins at times, and when we do, we often feel bad about ourselves. Sometimes we even think we can punish ourselves if we feel guilty enough about our sin, but that’s not true. Sin does have a high price, but Jesus has paid it in full. When He died on the cross, He provided forgiveness for all our sins — past, present, and future. When we ask God’s forgiveness for our sin, He forgives us immediately and even forgets our sins completely. (Isaiah 43:25) He shows us mercy with no strings attached. Even if there are consequences of our sin, we can move forward free from guilt, regret, or shame because God’s forgiveness cleanses us thoroughly, and His mercy gives us a fresh start. Knowing that God has forgiven us and that His mercy is always available should empower us to resist negative emotions such as shame and guilt. Jesus came to give us a wonderful, abundant life, and God’s forgiveness and mercy set us free to enjoy it.
