Hiding Place

Headaches, back pain or spasms, neck pain or stiffness, and shoulder pain….all signs of carrying a heavy load.  During the last few years the trend of women’s purse size is growing, and as we all know the larger the bag, the more things we pack in it.  Water bottle, cell phone, makeup bag, wallet, photo book, medicines, kindle, maybe even a laptop.  Sound familiar?  It’s recommended that we carry simple necessities such as ID, credit/debit card, cell phone, and lipstick, but we don’t want to give up our stuff.  Afterall, who knows when we might need those things.  Heavy bags may be cute and convenient, but they also take a toll on our bodies.

Unconfessed sin also takes a toll on us physically .   David knew the pain of unconfessed sin very well.  He committed adultery with Bathsheba and eventually murdered her husband in an effort to cover his sin.  In Psalms 32:3-4, David says, “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.”  (NIV)  David kept silent about his sin and tried to act like nothing had happened, but his sin began to take its toll physically. Unconfessed sin and God’s heavy hand of conviction weighed him down causing physical pain and lack of strength.  Disturbed sleep, not eating, eating too much, memory loss, mood swings, anxiety attacks….all physicall effects of trying to hide our sin.  Each unconfessed sin adds more unnecessary weight to our lives, and they grow heavy like an overstuffed bag.  Sometimes we choose to live with the burden of sin until it causes chronic pain that weighs us down, holds us back, and makes us miserable.

I can remember hiding with my brother from my Granny when we were young.  We giggled as we peeked around a tree and watched as she called our name and searched.  She knew we were playing games, and we never revealed ourselves until she finally grew frustrated with our games and brought out the fly swatter.  My own children have hidden in the clothing racks and stacks of dogfood at Wal-Mart, and they loved to go in the pasture playing Hide and Seek in the dark as they got older.  Hiding is an exciting adventure for children, but as we get older we no longer hide for enjoyment but rather we try to hide our sins from God.

He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (AKJ)  This game of Hide and Seek that we all play began with Adam and Eve.  When they ate of the forbidden fruit, they knew they had disobeyed God’s command.  Genesis 3:8 says, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”  Sin causes fear and our first response is to hide, but God provides a hiding place that offers peace, relief, and love.

Psalms 32:5 shows us how David handled his burdensome load.  “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (NLT)  David was once again able to experience joy in his life.  In Psalms 32:1 he said, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” (NLT)  Whatever sin is weighing you down, God will forgive and deliver you from the guilt.  All you have to do is ask.

• Click on the play button above to watch video.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalms 32:7 (NIV)

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