Psalm 145:8-9 (ESV)

***"The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."***

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The Heartbeat of Grace

Picture this: You’re at the bottom of a pit you dug yourself. Every decision, every failure, every selfish act has led to this place. You’ve tried climbing out—grabbing onto therapy, self-help, even sheer willpower—but the walls are too steep, and the tools you’re using crumble in your hands. You start to believe what the darkness whispers: You’re beyond saving.

And then, from somewhere above, you hear a voice. It doesn’t accuse, shame, or condemn. It simply says, “I’ve come for you.” You don’t deserve it, you didn’t earn it, but a rope drops into the pit—a lifeline of grace.

That’s what Psalm 145:8-9 is about. It’s about a God who doesn’t just sit back and watch as we flounder in our failures. He is gracious and merciful, always moving toward us with open arms, ready to extend forgiveness we could never earn.

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Understanding Grace in the Depths of Brokenness

David’s words in Psalm 145 paint a breathtaking picture of God’s character. He is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” The Hebrew word for “gracious” (ḥannûn) carries the idea of showing favor to the undeserving, while “merciful” (raḥûm) conveys a deep, parental compassion. Together, they reveal a God who doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve but instead moves toward us with tender kindness.

But what makes these words so extraordinary is that they are not just poetic descriptions; they are declarations born out of David’s personal experience. This is the same man who committed adultery, arranged a murder, and tried to cover it all up. Yet when confronted with his sin, David threw himself on God’s mercy and found not wrath but forgiveness.

Grace doesn’t ignore our failures; it meets us in them. It doesn’t excuse our sin; it transforms it.

Failing and Finding Grace

I know what it’s like to believe you’re too far gone. My life was a series of failures that piled on top of each other—hurting people who loved me, lying, stealing, and all the while denying I needed help. It got to the point where I truly believed I was beyond saving.

When I finally got sober, I thought, This is it. I’ve figured it out. I threw myself into self-help books, therapy, and positive thinking, believing that I could fix myself. And for a while, it seemed to work. But deep down, there was this weight I couldn’t shake—a guilt that nothing could lift. No matter how far I’d come, I couldn’t forgive myself for the person I had been.

It was in that broken place that I finally began to understand God’s grace. Grace wasn’t just a nice idea or a feel-good word; it was my only lifeline. When I realized that Christ had already forgiven me—completely and unconditionally—it hit me like a wave: Who am I to withhold forgiveness from myself when the Son of God has already paid the price for my sin?

God’s grace isn’t just about saving us from the pit; it’s about walking with us as we climb out, step by step, teaching us to see ourselves as He sees us. Even now, I’m far from the man I’m called to be, but I can say this with confidence: I’m on the path. And that’s all because of His grace.

The Nature of God’s Mercy

Psalm 145:9 declares, “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” God’s mercy is not just for the “good” or the “worthy.” It’s for the broken, the lost, and the ones who feel like they’ve failed too many times. His mercy doesn’t run out.

Consider the story of Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples. After boldly proclaiming he would never deny Jesus, Peter did just that—three times in a single night. The weight of his failure drove him to weep bitterly, believing he had ruined everything. Yet, after His resurrection, Jesus sought Peter out, asking him three times, “Do you love me?” Each question wasn’t a condemnation but an invitation to restoration. Jesus didn’t reject Peter; He restored him and entrusted him with the mission of building the Church.

That’s the kind of mercy God offers. It’s a mercy that moves toward us in our failure and invites us into healing and purpose.

Living in Light of Grace

How do we respond to a God who is gracious and merciful?

Admit Your Need
Grace begins where self-sufficiency ends. When we admit we can’t save ourselves, we make room for God to step in. Take time today to name the areas of your life where you’ve been trying to climb out of the pit on your own. Bring them to God in prayer.

Receive His Forgiveness
God’s grace is a gift, but we have to accept it. Too often, we hold onto guilt and shame, believing we need to “earn” forgiveness. But grace is free. Write down the words of 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Speak this truth over yourself daily.

Extend Grace to Others
Jesus calls us to reflect His grace in our relationships. When we forgive others, we demonstrate the mercy we’ve received. Think of one person you’ve been withholding forgiveness from. Ask God for the strength to extend grace to them this week.

Grace Transforms Everything

There’s a moment when you stop striving and start resting in grace. For me, it was the moment I realized that Christ had already done what I couldn’t do. He had taken my sin, my failures, and my shame to the cross—and in their place, He gave me new life.

That’s the invitation God is extending to you today. Whatever pit you’re in, whatever guilt you’re carrying, His grace is enough. He doesn’t just want to pull you out; He wants to walk with you, step by step, into the life He’s called you to.

The truth God is whispering to your heart today is this: “You are not beyond saving. My grace is sufficient for you.”

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Closing Prayer

Gracious and merciful God, thank You for meeting us in our brokenness with arms wide open. Help us to stop striving and start resting in Your grace. Teach us to see ourselves as You see us—redeemed, loved, and forgiven. Give us the strength to extend the same mercy to others that You have shown to us. Lord, may Your grace transform our hearts and our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have made it this far, then YOU ROCK!

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January 10: The Lord is Gracious and Merciful

Psalm 145:8-9 (ESV)