If you wrote down what you’re most thankful for, you could likely create a top 10 list. But what if you drilled deep into your soul? Would you rewrite your list and put mercy at or near the top?

Let’s suppose you cheated on your boyfriend or girlfriend, stole money from your roommate’s wallet, or lied to your boss. Or what if your behavior was much more heinous than these examples – and worse, was a recurring offense? Even though you sincerely regret and feel ashamed of your actions, you’re too afraid of how the people you’ve wronged will respond if you come clean.

What personality traits in the offended person would make it easier for you to confess and ask their forgiveness? And what could the person you wronged do in response to your confession that would help you make better choices in the future?

What about going to God after we’ve sinned against Him? Doesn’t God’s nature (or at least the way we perceive His nature) influence whether we choose to confess our wrongdoing to Him? And doesn’t our perception of God affect our ability to trust Him to help us overcome temptation next time?

It’s easy to misperceive how God feels about us when we struggle. We’re so convinced He’s disappointed in us that we avoid Him and remain in our sins, or we try to change without His help. God hates sin and how it destroys us – and generously offers mercy and grace. 

Have you experienced God’s mercy and grace?

Read Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

I love picturing the throne of grace. Sometimes, I shed tears in gratitude when I think of all the times God has forgiven me.

Consider how wretched our lives would be – how wretched our very self would be – if we couldn’t go to our heavenly Father when we feel like a failure and are at our weakest. Think how long our sleepless nights would be if God withheld His loving presence when we desperately needed to experience His nearness.

Hebrews 4:16 invites us to approach God’s throne with confidence. While we are in His presence in search of mercy, let’s also ask for grace to approach those we’ve betrayed, stolen from, and lied to – all those we’ve wronged. Once we’ve come clean to those we’ve hurt, we can walk away from our shame … and experience mercy a second time.

Mercy. It’s something to be thankful for.

Sheryl H. Boldt is a faith columnist and the author of the blog www.TodayCanBeDifferent.net. You can reach her at SherylHBoldt@gmail.com.