This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15-16

Megan sat in the circle of women with her head in her hands. “What I’ve done is so bad that I can’t ever forgive myself,” she cried. She was miserable and felt she deserved to live this way.

Megan’s past was marked by addiction and abortions. When she first heard that Jesus offered forgiveness to her, she couldn’t believe it extended to her. She’s in good company.

We’ve all made choices and done things that we regret, sometimes deeply and painfully. Guilt rushes in when we realize that there are some actions that can’t be undone and words that can never be taken back. Consequences have to be lived with but crippling guilt over the past is not God’s way for us. Each of us has someone Who goes between us and God, pleading our cases victoriously, every time.

The Message paraphrase of the Bible puts it like this: “Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help” (Hebrews 4:15-16). No past can negate the mercy that God offers lovingly through Jesus, His Son.

Ann VosKamp writes: “…no situation is more hopeless than my Savior is graceful. And no personal choice that muddied my life can ever trump the divine choice to wash my life clean.”[1]

You haven’t messed up beyond God’s grace. Jesus, your advocate, waits to wash you clean.

[1] Voskamp, Ann [@annvoskamp]. “December 11.” Instagram, December 11, 2022, https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCJ76Hjk6e/.