. . . for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.  Jonah 4:2b

Anger desires to repay evil for evil.  Clinging to our anger robs us of the tenderness of God’s presence in our own lives.   Expecting God to pour out His judgment on those we perceive as wrong doers warps our own perception of God.  Truly God hates sin, but let us never forget God LOVES the sinner and that includes us.

Jonah longed to see Nineveh destroyed for all their wickedness but he also knew God would show mercy and compassion in response to their repentance.  God has already punished sin upon the cross.  In loving-kindness God brings into lives whatever is necessary to draw us to Him.  God’s desire for that person you regard with such bitterness and disdain is to draw them to Him.

Whatever comes into your own life you can rest in the assurance that God’s arms are outstretched to you.  You do not have to earn His love.  It is freely given.  You can trust Him in the darkest moments of life.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38 & 39