God’s mercy and forgiveness is described in Psalm 103, verses 8-14–The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our inequities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. [NIV Bible]
Mercy is undeserved favor. It’s more than just being sympathetic. Mercy is an emotion that fuels an action. Forgiveness is an act of mercy. By accepting an apology, we forgive and show mercy. As many people know, forgiving someone who isn’t sorry (or who doesn’t acknowledge a wrong was done) helps to release anger and emotional pain. The power of forgiveness can’t be overstated because it transforms lives.
Reserving judgement is also an act of mercy. When we choose not to judge someone, we extend mercy to them. Turning a debt into a gift is mercy; second chances are mercy.
I’ve done wrong things enough times not to deserve mercy from God. But He gives it to me anyway because He is compassionate, He is loving, and His love for me isn’t dependent on my life’s report card.
There’s no greater mercy than the mercy of God. You can trust that if you believe in Him, He will help you no matter how guilty you may feel or how low you think you’ve sunk. Being forgiven by God restores us. We can get a fresh start and stop looking back. Look into this Scripture and believe it!