Is there something that you’re trying to hide from God?

When it comes to our hidden sins, it can sometimes seem like God has been leaving these dark areas of our lives alone. At times, you might even wonder if God is letting you run loose or if He is less concerned about this area of your life.

While it is tempting to stay in denial and avoid confronting our hidden sins, we must confront them because God is waiting for us to repent. He is patient and gives us grace because He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

Psalm 32 tells us how King David went through the whole process of coming clean before God. Here, we have drawn out four key elements that can help us to also step into this freedom and joy.

1. The Promise

“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.” (Psalm 32:1-2)

The Psalm begins with an assurance that whoever confesses their sins to God and hides nothing in deceit from Him will be forgiven.

In fact, the first two verses of the Psalm use the same word “blessed” to emphasise that those who bring their sins before God will truly be forgiven and blessed.

However, there is a condition – there has to be no deceit. God’s blessing and forgiveness are given to those who confess their sin honestly and completely without any reservation.

How do we do that?

2. The Process

“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. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:3-5)

In these three verses, we see the journey that David went through from resistance to confession.

First, we see that he remained silent and refused to admit his sins. But this resistance led to much inward turmoil and agony — David felt like his bones were wasting away and that his strength had been sapped.

It was as though the internal struggle had affected him externally and physically.

David knew what was wrong. He knew that all this agony was caused by what he was trying to hide from God. It came from all the guilt and sorrow that he was trying to repress.

Eventually, David turned to God in repentance, and he found forgiveness. David’s confession of sin shows us that we, too, can have the boldness to be honest before God because we are assured of His kindness and grace towards us (Romans 2:4).

3. The Precaution

“Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” (Psalm 32:6-10)

After reflecting on his own journey, David then urges the reader to turn to God and respond to Him while He might still be found. There is a sense of urgency to come clean before God and receive His divine grace through confession and repentance.

We are warned not to be like horses or mules because they have no understanding; they do not know what’s the right thing to do.

Turning a blind eye to our hidden sin will call for “bit and bridle”; we may be disciplined by “many woes” so that we return to the right path.

Conversely, those who trust in God will come to experience God’s unfailing love. They will find their refuge in God and be protected from trouble.

4. The Praise

“Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11)

Lastly, we see David giving God praise and rejoicing in Him. He is free because he no longer has anything hidden from God.

If we want to be righteous today, we need to put our trust in Jesus. Ask Him to teach us how to posture our hearts before God so that we always return to Him in humility and repentance.

Repentance will definitely lead to joy. If we confess our sins, God will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness. The truth will truly set us free.

But the question remains: Will we ask God to remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh, that we may come clean and walk right with Him?