February 20, 2026 

In Jonah 4:1-11, after Nineveh repents and God shows them mercy, Jonah becomes angry and disappointed. He wanted judgment, not forgiveness. Through a simple object lesson involving a plant, God gently teaches Jonah that His compassion is wider and deeper than human preferences. God cares even for people we might rather give up on.

Devotional: Jonah is one of the most honest characters in the Bible.

By the time we reach chapter four, he has already preached to Nineveh and watched the city turn toward God. Instead of celebrating, Jonah gets upset. He wanted them punished. He wanted justice on his terms. When God chose mercy instead, Jonah felt cheated.

And if we’re honest, we sometimes understand him.

There are moments when grace for other people feels unfair. We can be generous with mercy toward ourselves but surprisingly stingy with it toward others. Jonah’s anger exposes something uncomfortable; he had more interest in being right than in seeing people restored.

So God meets Jonah with patience.

He uses a simple plant to help Jonah see his own heart. Jonah cares deeply about a vine that gives him shade, but he struggles to care about an entire city full of people. God gently asks him to consider the difference between temporary comfort and eternal compassion.

The lesson is clear. God’s mercy is bigger than our boundaries.

The disciples saw Christ’s glory on the mountain and learned that God’s ways often stretch beyond human expectations. Jonah had to learn the same truth in a far less dramatic setting. God does not only love the people we approve of. He loves the ones who frustrate us, disagree with us, and challenge us.

That can be hard to accept.

Yet the story of Jonah reminds us that God’s heart is always turned toward redemption. He looks at people and sees possibilities instead of problems. He offers second chances where we might offer none.

Part of following Jesus means letting our hearts be shaped by that same compassion. It means praying for people we struggle with. It means hoping for their good instead of secretly wishing for their downfall.

God is still teaching us what He taught Jonah; His mercy is wider than we imagine, and His grace is meant for more people than we might choose.

Action: Think of someone you find difficult to show grace toward. Spend a moment praying for them today, asking God to help you see them with His compassion.

Prayer: Patient God, forgive us for the times we have limited Your mercy to our own small preferences. Soften our hearts and widen our compassion. Help us rejoice when others receive grace instead of resenting it. Teach us to love the way You love. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Thought for the Day: God’s mercy is always bigger than our comfort zone.

Jonah was angry when God showed mercy to people he thought deserved judgment. His story reminds us that God’s compassion is wider than our preferences and deeper than our understanding. True discipleship means learning to celebrate grace even when it stretches us.