“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12 NKJV

Abraham lied. Moses killed a man. Jacob stole his brother’s inheritance. Rahab was a prostitute and Peter denied knowing Jesus. And I divorced my first husband. What’s your story? Does doing bad things mean God refuses to forgive us?

God’s Mercy Forgets

Mercy forgets every wrong. Despite being imperfect people doing unrighteous acts, God’s mercy is always present. Our mess ups are not the end of our stories. Abraham’s faith began a nation. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Jacob wrestled with God and prevailed. Rahab protected the spies sent to explore the Promised Land, and became part of the lineage of Jesus. And I came to know the Lord and write books that help others strengthen relationships.

Mercy has followed God’s people down through history. It will not stop now. Every wrong God forgives He throws into the Sea of Forgetfulness. What about us? How many of us say we forgive, but don’t truly forget? If the offense still creeps through our minds in the dark of night, we haven’t let the offender off the hook. If we are eager to bring the subject up again in opportune moments, there’s more work to do.

Mercy Chooses to Forget Every Wrong

If the mercy God gives goes far beyond what we deserve, shouldn’t we be as merciful? Mercy is love put into action. In fact, mercy and love appear as interchangeable thoughts in Scripture.

God the Father’s greatest love gift to us was His Son, Jesus Christ. Sacrificial love bought our pardon. Every wrong deed, every wrong thought is remarkably forgiven.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Psalms 100:5 NKJV

Grant a Pardon

Mercy results in forgiveness. To forgive, according to the Oxford Dictionary, means to stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake. To cancel a debt. The Free Dictionary defines forgive as: to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something); to grant pardon for (a mistake, wrongdoing, etc.)

Forgiveness and mercy are great dance partners. One begets the other. Because Jesus forgets my list of sins, and how thankful I am, I should want to follow His example when I’m wronged. Again, it’s nothing the offender deserves, it’s something that’s freely given. To forgive and forget is to put mercy into action.

Control Trigger Points

But what about those pesky personal trigger points? We all have a few. When yelled at, my mood shifts from happy to internally defensive in less than a minute. This intrusive, stinky thought cycle is one I hope to overcome. With God’s help, I believe this blasted interloper will one day cease to exist.

Everyone, over the course of a lifetime, will experience some form of offense, disrespect, ridicule, and even physical abuse. No one gets a free pass. Cruel, insensitive behaviors are bound to pay us numerous visits.

The Choice to Forgive and Forget is Ours

Thankfully, God has already given us the right way to respond. We get to freely choose how to act when wronged. We can act like Jesus does. Or we can feel victimized and lash out. Jesus chose to forgive. Making our Jesus choice is the most beneficial answer. Cry those tears, yell into your pillow, but leave vengeance in the Lord’s hands. Mercy will always choose to forgive and forget.