Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 NIV
I came back to this verse three times before I decided to post it and I'm not entirely sure how to synthesize it. I think there are many times we perceive God to be this distant figure enforcing rules--I know that's how I viewed God in the past (and maybe even at a few moments these days). It was in the times when I expected a consequence for an action or choice and was instead greeted by grace or love or forgiveness or kindness or generosity, did I begin to see the heart of God. It was not until I got to know Him better did I see that these traits are perfectly present in His character.
Being a word nerd, I'm seeing some assuring specifications of the traits of God here. He doesn't stay angry forever. He delights to show mercy. He will have compassion again. These distinctions should give us hope and encouragement in the midst of our choices and things we wish we could take back, whether that's in our words or actions. God enjoys to teach and only disciplines because He loves.
You don't invest in what you don't want to keep around...