“When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away and I groaned all day long.” Psalms 32:3 NLT
King David wrote this song when he found himself entangled in a mess of his own making. He had seen Bathsheba taking a naked swim in the pool, and once he laid eyes on her, he could not rest until she became his. The only problem was that she was already married to one of his captains. Still, David managed to have his way, and Bathsheba became pregnant with his child.
At that point, David tried to scheme by having his captain return home in hopes that he would sleep with Bathsheba and cover David’s sin. Unfortunately, his soldier wanted to remain vigilant for battle, which was more than we can say about the king. Seeing no other way out, David sent Uriah to the front lines, almost guaranteeing his death. Once Uriah was killed in battle, David was free to marry Bathsheba.
Sometimes we do things that our conscience cannot tolerate, and it won’t let us rest until we’ve made it right. While we can pretend for a while that our behavior has no accountability, the very fact that it constantly nags at us proves otherwise. Confession is good for the soul for a reason — sins are the secrets that make you vulnerable to extortion. When I say “extortion,” I’m not only talking about money payments. I’m talking about the lack of peace that predisposes you to fears and anxiety, which in turn lead to elevated blood pressure, tension headaches, and stomach ailments, to name just a few related problems.
May you have the courage to be honest with God and yourself about the areas where you have royally messed up and allow his forgiveness to free you not just from the shame of the sin, but also the sickness it creates in you.
