"Only this should not escape your attention, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness" (2 Peter, ch. 3, v. 8 – 9*).
The fact that the Lord seems to delay His response against sin often confuses believers. Today's passage from Scripture gives us the reason for this—God is patient so that every person may have the opportunity to repent (v. 9).
Jonah flees from his duty to preach in Nineveh because he expects that if its inhabitants repent, his compassionate God will take pity and not destroy these enemies of the Israelites. And that's exactly what happens. Instead of rejoicing in God's success, the prophet complains that the Lord shows mercy and grace to the Ninevites (Jonah, ch. 4, v. 1 – 2). Jonah is angry with God, despite the fact that he has also received such a blessing.
We, as believers, have plenty of reasons to thank God that, unlike humans, He is slow to anger (Ps. 145, v. 8). When we are stubborn and do not repent, He patiently waits for us to respond to the admonition. Discipline is unpleasant for both its subject and the one who imposes it. The Lord prefers us to see our errors, to stop thinking we will get away with them, and turn back to His path of righteousness.
The Lord values repentance and the maintenance of relationships with Him highly. Do not wait for discipline to come. Instead, do what is right and direct your heart towards God.
Link to the original article: https://www.intouchuk.org/read/daily-devotions/the-patience-of-god
* Biblical quotes are from Bible, New Translation from Original Languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013