This may be thought of as a well-known thing, but it just seems to be jumping out at me from this week's parsha such that I felt I should mention it. That is the issue of Hashem's forgiveness. Rashi says that Hashem's anger lasts for only a moment. And in regards to the census of the people, Rashi notes that it was timed when it was to show how precious we are, just like a shepherd who after having some sheep stolen immediately goes to count his sheep to know how many he has left, as each is so dear to him.
I once heard Rav Gedalia Fleer say that when we sin, we are disconnected from Hashem, but if we want to, we can come back immediately. Don't think there won't be any consequences, but you can come right back. The Jewish people had just been taken out of Egypt and given the Torah and, almost without delay, fall into the disparity of killing, sexual perversion, and idol worship. Yet, we see that Hashem forgives them.
Oftentimes, I find within myself that when I fall, I continue to fall deeper and deeper because I feel that Hashem must be so angry with me, I might as well just throw in the towel. But it's so important to remember that each and every one of us is SO precious and dear to Hashem. He loves us.
The sin of the golden calf is with us throughout all of the generations, yet we still go on; how much more so if one of us falls on our path should we turn to Hashem for forgiveness and keep on going. In last week's parsha, Moses is commanded to purify the altar. The Hebrew word used there for purify is the same root as sin. If G-d forbid, we should fall into sin, we must double our efforts and work to turn our sin into a purification. This can only come through turning back to G-d. Yes, of course He's going to be angry; at the golden calf, He was ready to destroy us all. But, if we trust in his love for us and know how much he wants to forgive us, it may become that much easier to deal with the anger for just a moment; for as we say every morning in a our prayers "His anger is but a moment, life is from His will."