March 03, 2023
By Brooke Holt
“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” Psalm 32:3-4
We all experience a pain that people don’t speak of in this world – the pain of hiding sin, faults, and difficult feelings. We want quick fixes; the things that make us feel good. That is why addiction is so prevalent and suicide is on the rise. We make the goal to escape the pain instead of finding ways to heal it.
Since Adam and Eve, we have seen that sin makes people want to run and hide from God. We want to cover our sin and pretend it is not there. Yet, we know that God sees. We know what we have done. Denial does more harm than good as the weight of our sin and guilt can feel crushing to us.
In Psalm 32, we see an alternate way to denial and running from God. Instead, the psalmist speaks of running to God and being open about the ways in which we have failed him, ourselves, and each other. Where silence leads to grief and sickness of spirit, mind, and body, the way of confession leads to freedom and healing.
God offers you mercy, grace, forgiveness, and restoration today. Don’t waste away in silence but bring your burdens to the Lord. In prayer, open your heart before him. What is he calling you to release, and what is he calling you to receive?
Reflection:
How do you deal with your sin? Do you run and hide and thus waste away under the burden of your sin, or do you move into the forgiveness of the Lord? No matter what you have done, the Lord awaits with open arms ready to receive you, ready to forgive you, ready to heal you. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resource:
The Resurrected Life: Making All Things New - The Bible promises that those who are in Christ are "new creatures." But how does that transformation take place? This unique Easter-season small group Bible study provides a space in which we can discover what it truly means to live a new life. As we listen, we'll learn how the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything - for us. Begin the journey to new life today!
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