When Forgiveness Feels Unfair

Good Morning!

What do you do when forgiveness doesn’t feel like enough? When the offense is so deep, so cruel, so unjust that your heart cries out for punishment instead of mercy? God’s forgiveness can wipe away even the most heinous acts, yet our human nature often demands retribution.

Jonah understood this tension. God sent him to Nineveh with a simple but urgent message: Repent, or be destroyed. Jonah refused. He ran—not because he feared failure, but because he feared success. He believed the people of Nineveh didn’t deserve forgiveness. They were brutal, violent, and wicked. In Jonah’s eyes, destruction was justice.

After running, resisting, and being swallowed by a great fish, Jonah finally obeyed. The people repented, and God forgave them. Instead of rejoicing, Jonah grew angry at God’s compassion. He wanted judgment, not mercy.

But God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” His mercy extends even to those we believe are beyond redemption.

Today, many feel that certain leaders, organizations, or nations deserve harsh punishment for their cruelty and hatred. And while accountability matters, we must remember: Who are we to judge unless we want to be judged? God alone sees the heart. God alone knows the full story. God alone decides the measure of mercy.

So stop thinking, speaking, and reacting like Jonah. As difficult as it may be, ask God to help you forgive. Pray that He reveals Himself to all people across this land. Pray that hearts turn from evil, that humility rises, and that our nation seeks God once again.

Despite what we see, God has not withdrawn His concern or His love from America. His mercy still reaches. His compassion still calls. His grace still saves.