Suddenly, I crashed into standing water. The car bounced to the right like a ball off a tennis racket. I hung onto the wheel as the car nearly overturned before we veered back left across the road. Swinging back, we returned to our own lane. As soon as it began, it was over and I was cruising again.

My legs grew faint. I caught my breath. I looked at my wife and she looked at me. “Whew, that was close!” our eyes said. I thought about the two cars facing me on this otherwise empty road. It’s a good thing they were already past when I swung into their lane.

Arriving home, I reflected on our near accident. My first thought? Guilt. I should have slowed down more. I should have responded more quickly. I could have gotten ourselves or others killed.

Why is it that I am so quick to criticize myself? Why didn’t I feel grateful that God had prompted me? Why not have thoughts of thanksgiving rather than guilt? After all, I had slowed down–certainly enough to ensure that the opposing two cars were safely behind me rather than in front of me when I veered into their lane.

As I mused, I imagined God saying to me, “Steve, would you lighten up? There’s no need to feel guilty. I was proud of you tonight. I prompted you to slow down, and you did. You did good! Don’t be so hard on yourself. Give up the self criticism and relax in my grace.”

God understands and accepts the frailties of our human nature. He loves us precisely the way he made us. As a proud father enjoys the faltering steps of his toddler, so God rejoices in our feeble attempts to follow him.

After all, the Scripture says, “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who revere him. For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust,” (Psalm 103:13‑14).

God is not nearly as hard on us as we tend to imagine. One way to show we believe that is by refusing to be so hard on ourselves.