“Then I Acknowledged” - Psalm 32 (Day 3)

This week we have slowed down to meditate on the words of King David found in Psalm 32. Yesterday, we reflected on the devastation that hidden struggles can have on our hearts and souls. But, today, as we turn our attention to verses 5 through 7, we see the freeing power that comes when we acknowledge our struggles and confess our sins. This is the loving response that Christ offers to anyone who possesses the courage to come to him. So, before we begin, I want to create some space for you to pray and ask God to give you the courage to bring to Him any struggle you're facing.

As you read the opening verses of Psalm 32, recognize the difference in emotions between the blessed person who embraces forgiveness compared to what one experiences when they conceal and hide their struggles:

Psalm 32:1-4 says this:

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Hiding may be easier in the short term, but it causes us to miss all of the good work that God wants to do in us over the long run. Our enemy wants us to stay concealed in darkness, but God promises that when we put our faith in Jesus, He will cover us with His love, mercy, and forgiveness. As we’ll see in verses 5-7, something happens to us when we put words to our struggle and get honest about what’s taking place inside our hearts.  

Psalm 32:5-7 says this:

5 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.

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.

7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Take a moment to reflect on what you just read:

• What does acknowledging his sin enable David to experience? 

No hoops to jump through, no wait-and-see period, no striving to prove himself worthy...none of it. Instead, immediate restoration, fellowship, and forgiveness greeted David's confession. This response reminds me of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. The compassionate father didn't hand his son a tool and send him off to the fields to earn back his keep. Instead, overwhelmed that his son had returned, the father offered him his best robe and welcomed him back by throwing a party. 

Until we understand and trust that perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, we will never experience true, lasting, and transformational freedom. Instead, we will flirt with darkness while wrestling with guilt and fear. "Receiving Christ" isn't a compartmentalized decision. Bringing our whole selves into the light is a daily, moment-by-moment decision and discipline. This vulnerable act only occurs if we are willing to break the silence and be honest about our sin and our struggles. Repentance restores what sin divided. By agreeing that something is broken and needs restoration, we are more willing to come into the light and trust God with what is exposed.

Take a moment and consider…How does knowing that Christ’s love and forgiveness immediately greet your confession influence how you handle your struggles? 

Read today’s passage slowly one more time.

Psalm 32:5-7 says this:

5 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.

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.

7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Being vulnerable and availing ourselves requires bravery, honesty with God, and a persistent trust that He can do more with our mess than we could even imagine. When we acknowledge our struggles, radical forgiveness, unconditional love, and redemptive grace reach the deepest places of our souls. It seeps through and touches everything about us - our perspective, emotions, and purpose. The invitation is to bring all that we are to Christ to be exposed and forgiven. Why? So, that our lives would serve as an expression to the world around us of the transformational power of an encounter with Christ’s love. 

Forgiveness fosters intimacy and a deeper dependency. Knowing He takes good care of our hearts, we can trust that He will extend the same grace to everything else we face. Instead of hiding from God, He becomes our hiding place and we can pursue Him with confidence. We don't have to protect ourselves from His judgment; rather, He protects us from trouble, surrounding us with “songs of deliverance.” No longer overcome with guilt, we’re overwhelmed by His love.

So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is saying to you through Psalm 32. First, take a moment to process this question…What in your life do you need to lay at the feet of Jesus and receive the forgiveness He has already given to you? 

Another question to consider is this…How can an encounter with the forgiveness and love of God shape your life? 

And lastly… In what ways can your life serve as an expression of this encounter? 

PRAYER

Father God, 

May I run to You with open arms rather than hide. 

I will trust that Your kindness and love will lead me to repentance. 

The only place where my regrets, struggles, and sin are safe is in Your hands. 

You've restored what is broken and made a way for me to be whole. Amen.