God's Glory Church

“He is not always hostile to us, and he does not hide his anger forever.” — Psalm 102:9

One of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic was the docking of cruise ships and the quarantine of passengers. “The Wall Street Journal” published an article containing interviews with tourists. Commenting on how the quarantine provided more opportunities for communication, one passenger joked that his wife, who has a great memory, remembered every one of his misdeeds and she thought she hadn’t remembered everything yet!

Stories like these make us smile, remind us of our human nature, and serve as a warning to see if we’re holding on to things we should let go of. However, what helps us to be kind to those who have offended us? The character of our great God as stated in Psalm 102:8-12.

In verses 8-10 it is beautifully said: “The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and merciful. He is not always hostile to us, and he does not hide his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, and repays us not according to our transgressions.” Prayerfully reading the Holy Scriptures and asking for God’s help can prompt us to reconsider our intentions to take revenge on someone or punish someone. It can also lead us to pray for ourselves and for those we want to hurt by refusing to show grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Who did you want to hurt in return for the pain they caused you? Who can you turn to for prayer support?

God of mercy, kindness and forgiveness, please help me to show grace and mercy to those who have hurt me.

Author: Arthur Jackson