David writes in Psalm 32:1-4: “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.”
David was certainly no stranger to the consequences of unrepented and hidden sin. We read in 2 Samuel 11 of David’s affair with Bathsheba and then murder of her husband Uriah in an attempt to keep the affair from becoming known. David spent so much time and effort to try to escape the consequences and the truth of the sins that he had committed. It wasn’t until God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his sins that David eventually confessed what he had done and repented. But when we read what David wrote in Psalm 32, we see the freedom and relief that David experienced when his sins were no longer hidden and were forgiven.
When we put so much energy into running away from what we've done or what we're struggling with, and when we put so much energy into pretending like everything is okay or the real problem is someone else's problem, it just wears us out. Running away is exhausting and so is pretending like everything is okay. Rest and relief from our Father await us when we practice confession.
Reflection/Discussion Question: What emotions have you experienced when you finally have repented and confessed your sins to God?
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