Being merciful means having a forgiving heart. It also means doing what you can to prevent evil from happening to others.
When someone offends you, being merciful means you’re willing to forgive. Even when people don’t deserve your help, mercy compels you to show kindness and support anyway.
Mercy also involves caring for others—thinking about their needs and considering them when making decisions.
God Is a Merciful God
One of God’s defining attributes is mercy.
When God came in human form as Jesus Christ, He was always ready to show mercy to those who cried out to Him. Whether it was healing the sick, feeding the hungry, or forgiving sinners, His mercy was consistent and deep.
Another sign of God’s mercy is that He forgives even the most wicked people—if they turn away from their evil and ask for forgiveness. No matter how bad someone’s past is, God is always ready to show mercy when there is genuine repentance.
Jonah and the Mercy of God
A clear example of God’s mercy is found in the story of Jonah.
God sent Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, a wicked city. Jonah initially refused and ran away because he knew how merciful God is. He didn’t want Nineveh to be forgiven. After Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and later rescued, he obeyed God and preached to the city.
To Jonah’s surprise—and frustration—the people of Nineveh repented. And as expected, God forgave them.
Jonah became angry and said to God, “Isn’t this what I said while I was still at home? That’s why I tried to run away. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (Jonah 4:2).
Jonah struggled with the idea that people he considered wicked could receive mercy. But that is the very nature of God—He is merciful to all who repent.
God Is Our Father
God is not just our Creator—He is our Father.
He made us in His image. We didn’t make ourselves. The Bible says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” But not only does God exist, He is our loving Father.
Just like an inventor is considered the father of their invention, God is the Father of humanity.
Children Ought to Be Like Their Father
Since God is our Father, we should reflect His nature. We ought to develop and live out the attributes of our Father.
That’s why Jesus came—to show us what it looks like to live with God’s attributes in human form.
Jesus displayed love, mercy, gentleness, faithfulness, diligence, wisdom, patience, peace, and many other godly traits. As His followers, we should do the same.
Show Mercy Like God Shows Mercy
Let’s learn to be merciful, not just in what we do but in how we think.
Our actions flow from our thoughts. If your thoughts toward others are full of kindness, it becomes easier to act mercifully. But if your thoughts are bitter or wicked, mercy will be hard to maintain—and when it does appear, it will be short-lived.
So, let’s love others. Let’s be kind. Let’s care. Let’s forgive. Let’s help, even when it’s not deserved.
Let’s show mercy—because God first showed us mercy.