When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
— Psalm 32:3-4
DAVID WAS GUILTY of an adulterous relationship, which eventually led to murder. Though he tried to hide his guilt, his secret was eating him away. He couldn’t clear his mind of what he had done.
When the heavy hand of God is upon your life, you will find no rest. Day and night, your conscience will plague you.
SIN IS PLEASURABLE FOR A MOMENT, BUT IT IS A SHORT-LIVED MOMENT. ONE MOMENT’S PLEASURE CAN CAUSE A PERSON YEARS OF GRIEF, SORROW AND HEAVINESS.
Perhaps you are experiencing the guilt David described. Your sin is plaguing you. You are seeing the consequences and it is ripping you up inside. You never intended to get this deeply involved, but you have been drawn in and you are miserable. The hand of God is heavy upon you.
I have good news for you. The moment David said: “I acknowledge my sin. I will confess” (Psalm 32:5), God forgave him. And you can be forgiven just as quickly. First John 1:9 tells us that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Forgiveness brings release—release from guilt, from shame, and from the heavy hand of God.
Lord, may we experience that glorious joy of forgiveness, that we can walk free from the guilt of sin because we have been washed and cleansed by Your love through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.