The imagery in the Psalm is so real and relatable. I too feel the same way when I repent to the Lord, and I feel the same way when I stay silent. The Message version says:
“When I kept it all inside,
my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up;
all the juices of my life dried up.
Then I let it all out;
I said, ‘I’ll come clean about my failures to God.’ Suddenly the pressure was gone–
my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.”
Although God sent his Son to die for all of our sins, he still wants us to come to him with our iniquities because he loves us and wants a relationship with us. We weren’t meant to keep everything bottled up inside because we can’t handle our sin alone.
David then goes on to say,
“These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
we’ll be on high ground, untouched.”
When we offer up our iniquities in prayer, everything changes. We can feel safe and secure in the arms of the Lord because he knows us intimately and will fight the battles of sin with us.
In this time of lent, let us remember how much we desperately need a Savior. Right now, do you feel like you’re trying to carry the weight of the world or the weight of your own sin? If so, I’m right there with you. I pray that Psalm 32 would be a reminder to all of us that we cannot carry this weight alone, and God doesn’t want us to! He’s also given us this beautiful and safe community called Christ City Church to share and open up to as well, which I am so grateful for.
Love you guys!
- Bethany Powell