“My dog is kind to me because she licks my face when I’m sad,” says Mia, 7. “If a dog can do that, God must be really kind.”
Dogs are great at showing affection, but God’s kindness goes far deeper. In Romans 2:4, Paul writes, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
Repentance means a change of mind. It’s like a lens change. You see with greater clarity. God doesn’t push us toward change by beating us over the head with a stick. Instead, He draws us with His kindness.
So many evangelists can’t preach a message without asking their hearers to “turn from their sins.” Yet, the Apostle Paul said that his gospel message was “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Acts 20:21). Notice that God is the object of repentance, not sin.
When the real gospel message is preached, people change their minds about God. They realize that eternal life is a gift to be received because Jesus Christ paid for all sin on the cross. Most people think that a home in heaven is based on their behavior pattern. When people trust Christ as their savior, they have repented or changed their minds about God, who is much kinder than they ever suspected.
“I think God’s kindness makes us want to do the right thing,” says Carter, 9.
That’s right. Fear can stop us for a while, but kindness melts our hearts. If your teacher scares you into being quiet, you’ll obey when she’s watching. But if she’s kind, you respect her enough to behave even when her back is turned.
God is not soft on sin. His justice is real. But instead of judging us immediately, He shows patience and mercy. Every sunrise, every meal, and every breath is a gift of God’s kindness. These daily blessings remind us that God loves us and wants us to know Him.
The Apostle Paul uses words like “forbearance” and “longsuffering” to describe God’s patience. He holds back judgment to give people time to trust Him. Think about the story of Jonah and the people of Nineveh. God could have wiped them out instantly. Instead, He sent Jonah to warn them. When they turned to Him, He forgave them.
When we stumble, God doesn’t throw us away. His kindness picks us up again.
We see the kindness of God most clearly in the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus took the judgment we deserved so that God could offer us forgiveness. That’s kindness on steroids!
So what does all this mean for us? It means we should never take God’s kindness for granted. Every new day is an invitation to trust Him. Every blessing is a reminder of His love. Every act of patience is another chance to change our mind about God and receive His grace and love.
Instead of waiting for fear to whip us into shape, we can let kindness lead us by the hand. When we understand how much God has done for us, our hearts begin to change. Repentance isn’t about trying harder. It’s about letting God’s kindness sink in so deeply that we see Him as the gracious God that he is.
“God is kind because He doesn’t give up on us,” says Caleb, 7. “That makes me want to follow Him more.”
Think About This: God’s kindness is not weakness. His patience and goodness are powerful. They melt hard hearts and draw us back to Him.
Memorize This Truth: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
Ask This Question: Am I letting God’s kindness change my heart today?
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COPYRIGHT 2026 CAREY KINSOLVING
A New Hampshire Press Association member