When Grace Offends You

Jonah didn’t run from God because he was scared of failure.
He ran because he expected God to forgive people he couldn’t stand.
And he was right.
But that’s the offense of grace—it exposes our limits.

🌾 The Seed

“I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness…” — Jonah 4:2

He was mad that God was good.
But God doesn’t withhold compassion to make us feel better.
He gives it because it’s who He is.

📖 The Word

Exodus 34:6 says:

“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth…”

Psalm 86:5 says:

“You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.”

If grace offends you, it might be because you forgot you needed it too.

🧠 The Shift

Studies in empathy and social cognition show that people with higher self-compassion also display greater compassion toward others.
When you recognize your own need for grace, your brain becomes less reactive in judgment and more open to connection.

Source: Neff & Pommier, “The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Other-Focused Concern,” Self and Identity, 2013

🛠 The Build

Reflect:
Has God shown compassion to someone you didn’t think “deserved” it?
Repent. Release.
Ask God to heal your heart and expand your compassion to match His.

🔊 The Speak

“I receive and extend the grace of God. I don’t limit compassion—I reflect it.”

📩 Don’t Just Read—Repent and Rejoice.

Join the Garden Club for the Compassion Challenge—7 days of heart alignment with God's mercy.

👉 Join the Club

Category: Heart
From Daily Seed the podcast: Season 1: Seeds of Redemption, Episode 6 : Even When it Hurts
🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple