Jonah: Big Fish, Bigger GodIsampula

God’s abounding love

If you have trouble forgiving yourself or believing that God isn’t mad at you after you messed up in a big way, look at how God treated the wicked people of Nineveh after they repented. “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened” (Jonah 3:10). Despite their countless sins, God immediately showed them mercy.

By nature, we tend to think of our relationship with God as a scale that balances good and bad choices. If we do more good things than bad things, God smiles. If we do more bad things than good things, God scowls. So, if you’ve done too many bad things, you better pile up some good things before God brings destruction down on your head.

But that isn’t true, and this story is the proof. God relented before these sinners had time to put in much effort. Their hearts turned from sin and turned to him, and—boom!—God showed compassion, a preview of how Jesus would later treat the thief on the cross.

The Lord treats you the same way. You might think you must earn back God’s love, but you don’t. You might assume you need some time to balance the scales and be worthy of his affection, but you don’t. Because God is God—abounding in love and full of grace—you can run back to him in repentance any time, on any day, and find his arms wide open.

Isn’t grace amazing?