MERCY WINS

MAY 28

Psalm 106

Psalm 106:6, “Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.”

Psalm 106:44, “Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.”

Failure is part of the human story. We fall, we fail, we drift from God’s path—and if left to ourselves, our mistakes could define us. But Psalm 106 offers a powerful reminder: failure doesn’t have the final word. God’s mercy does.

This psalm paints a sobering picture of how God’s people repeatedly turned away from Him—forgetting His wonders, rebelling against His commands, and chasing idols. From the wilderness to the promised land, they strayed again and again. Their disobedience birthed consequences, sometimes deadly.  Yet, woven through their disobedience is the unbreakable thread of God’s compassion. He disciplines, but does not abandon. When they cried out, He remembered His covenant—not because they deserved it, but because He is faithful and merciful.

Psalm 106 isn’t just Israel’s story—it’s ours. Like them, we’re prone to forget, to wander, to chase after and settle for lesser things. But God’s mercy is still at work. It is His steadfast love in action—holding back judgment while offering forgiveness and restoration. Mercy is not weakness; it’s the strength of God’s love reaching into our brokenness. This psalm calls us to repent, and to rest in the God who saves not because we are faithful, but because He is.

The Apostle Peter’s story echoes this same mercy. Though he vowed to stand by Jesus, Peter denied Him three times. Yet after the resurrection, Jesus met him with compassion, inviting him to affirm his love and commissioning him to lead. Peter’s failure didn’t disqualify him—mercy transformed him into a pillar of the early church. His story proves what Psalm 106 proclaims: no failure is final when we return to God.

Maybe today you feel too far gone. Let this psalm—and Peter’s redemption—remind you: God’s mercy reaches deeper than your worst moment. He still hears. He still restores. And He still welcomes back.

“No one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.” — Billy Graham

Application Questions: In what areas of your life do you feel like failure has defined you, and how can you begin to embrace God’s mercy and restoration in those areas? How can you extend the same mercy and forgiveness to others that God has shown to you, especially when they have failed or hurt you?

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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