When The Door Slams
I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my wickedness; I said, "I will confess [all my transgressions to the LORD", And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [for forgiveness] in a time when You [are near and] may be found; Surely when the great waters [of trial and distressing times] overflow they will not reach [the spirit in] him. You are my hiding place; You, LORD, protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. (Psalm 32:5-7 AMP)
All of us can testify to the "before and after" of relief from physical pain. It might happen quickly-an aspirin and a good night's sleep relieves a headache-or it might be a long-term process-a painful broken bone gradually heals. However long the transition takes, we knows how good it feels to be relieved of pain.
Guilt can be as painful spiritually as an ailment can be physically. The guilt of sin, whether by omission or commission, can be removed. And when guilt is removed, the accompanying pain of fear, stress, despair, or shame is removed as well. The psalmist David described the pain of his unconfessed sin (Psalm 32:3-4) and implied the removal of that pain when he "[confessed his] transgressions to the LORD" (verse 5).
We don't know if this psalm was written in the aftermath of his adultery and conspiracy to murder (2 Samuel 11-12); but if it was, he had lived almost a year with the pain of his guilt. He saw confession to God as the path to the restoration of his joy (Psalm 51:12).
Think about this: A young man was in an outpatient drug rehab program, meeting with a counselor weekly. Some weeks he had to report that he had succumbed to drug use since their last meeting. "Do you want to get off drugs?" his counselor would ask. Hearing yes as an answer, the counselor would respond, "Then I will be here for you until you succeed." When he asked why you didn't give up on me, the counselor would reply, "My job doesn't depend on your faithfulness. It's my job to be faithful regardless."
"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord " (1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV). Let God's faithfulness to you be an inspiration for your own faithfulness to Him. If you are living with an unconfessed sin, ask God to cleanse you and deliver you from pain to relief (1 John 1:9).
Intercession: LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this (Ezra 9:15 HCSB).
Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Never Rest Ministries