When You Can’t Let Go, Let Mercy Lead You
God’s uniqueness is exemplified through His incomparable forgiveness—where He not only pardons our sins but actually finds joy in showing mercy. Karin Hadadan, best-selling author of Beauty in the Stillness, writes about God’s pure forgiveness and how we can enact his mercy in our own relationships every day.
This is the profound difference between simple forgiveness—(absolving poor decisions) and mercy (which is born out of the desire to relieve suffering through the lens of compassion).
Our God may be grieved whenever we act in ways that He deems wrong, yet His anger never stretches far enough to prevent Him from truly pardoning us, demonstrating how pure His heart is toward each of us. Rather than punishing us for our wrongdoings, God quietly whispers, ‘It’s okay, I understand, I forgive you, I relieve you.’
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
Micah 7:18-19
When we think about the people in our lives, especially the family members, friends, or partners who have wronged us, we tend to resist forgiveness and mercy. But when has a relationship ever grown stronger through punishment? When have we felt better about ourselves while harboring anger or resentment? When has holding a grudge ever served us? There is profound freedom to be found in receiving this level of mercy, but it is also something we must learn to embody with the people around us.
To reflect this attribute to others—to not only forgive but to do so through the lens of joyful mercy—we can find compassion toward those who have hurt us. We offer them the same love that God offers us, answering the question ‘Who is a God like you?’ by becoming more like Him in our own forgiveness.
Forgiveness is one of the clearest reflections of God’s nature—a sacred act that mirrors His mercy and transforms the heart. When God forgives, He does so freely and joyfully, delighting in compassion rather than withholding it. Yet, extending that same grace to others can be one of the greatest challenges of faith. Feelings of anger, resentment, and betrayal often make forgiveness feel impossible, but through God’s strength, it becomes an act of liberation rather than obligation.
Learning to forgive as God forgives means not just releasing others from their wrongs but also releasing ourselves from the weight of bitterness. As we practice this divine mercy, our hearts grow softer, our relationships heal, and our character begins to resemble His—gracious, patient, and abounding in love.
