A Heart Like His: What Jonah Teaches Us About Grace
Have you ever been so frustrated that you just lost it? Maybe over traffic, spilled coffee, or a toddler’s tantrum. But what about getting angry at grace? That sounds almost unthinkable. Yet that’s exactly what Jonah did.
His story is often remembered for the giant fish, but the real tension comes later. Jonah finally obeys God, goes to Nineveh, and delivers the message. The people repent. God shows mercy. And Jonah is furious.
Scripture says, “It displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.” Not because Nineveh ignored the message, but because they didn’t. Jonah couldn’t accept that God would show mercy to people he believed didn’t deserve it.
That part of Jonah’s story reveals something deep, not just about him but also about us. It confronts the way we handle grace when it challenges our expectations or comforts.
God Tells the Truth
One of the most loving things God does is tell the truth. He doesn’t gloss over sin or soften the reality of our need. Like a good doctor offering a hard diagnosis, God shows us what’s really going on so He can bring healing.
That’s why He sent Jonah to Nineveh. Not to shame them, but to wake them up. It wasn’t a message of condemnation, but a call to turn back. We see this same pattern throughout Scripture. God steps in to confront, not to crush, but to restore.
C.S. Lewis once said, “God does not love us because we are good. He makes us good because He loves us.” That’s the foundation. God doesn’t wait until we change before He cares. He cares first and changes us through that love.
God Moves with Compassion
God didn’t just call out Nineveh’s sin. He responded with compassion. When they repented, He relented. And when Jonah pouted, God didn’t dismiss him. He asked questions. He provided shade. He guided Jonah back to the bigger picture.
This is what God is like. He’s full of grace for the guilty and patience for the stubborn. It’s the same heart that led Jesus to cry over Jerusalem, to tell stories of lost sheep and rebellious sons, and to endure the cross.
Compassion is not soft or weak. It’s fierce and steady. And it’s at the core of who God is.
God Forgives Quickly
When Nineveh turned, God forgave. Immediately. Without delay. It wasn’t because they earned it or proved themselves. It was because they turned to Him—and He was ready.
This kind of forgiveness still exists. As 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” We don’t have to stay stuck in shame. God’s grace opens a new path forward.
His forgiveness doesn’t erase truth or consequences. But it gives us a clean slate and a fresh direction.
Three Ways to Reflect God’s Heart
Jonah struggled to celebrate grace because he hadn’t fully embraced it for himself. His anger wasn’t about Nineveh’s sin. It was about God’s mercy. So how do we avoid that same trap? How do we reflect God’s heart?
1. Pursue Reconciliation, Not Just Relief
Sometimes we want peace without the work of making things right. But Jesus taught us to reconcile with others before offering our worship. That’s how serious He is about restored relationships.
2. Love People Where They Are
It’s easy to love people who are easy to love. But God loves people who are hard to love, too. And He calls us to do the same. That doesn’t mean excusing sin, but it does mean showing kindness to people who don’t yet know the truth.
3. Forgive Freely
In a world that clings to bitterness, forgiveness stands out. When we forgive quickly and fully, we show the same kind of grace God shows us. And it frees us just as much as it frees the other person.
Jonah’s story ends abruptly. God asks Jonah a question, and we don’t get Jonah’s response. It leaves us with the same question: How will we respond?
While Jonah sat in frustration under a vine, Jesus hung in love on a cross. Jonah grumbled about grace. Jesus gave His life to extend it.
Our world doesn’t need more judgment or distance. It needs people who live out the heart of God—who speak the truth, show compassion, and forgive when it’s hard.
So let’s ask ourselves:
Where am I resisting grace?
Who needs compassion from me this week?
How can I better reflect God’s love in real, practical ways?
As we follow Jesus, let’s move toward people with truth and grace. Let’s lead with kindness. Let’s be the kind of people who not only receive mercy but also extend it. That’s the kind of life that changes things—for us, and for the world around us.