As a child did you ever break something by accident and try to hide the evidence to avoid getting into trouble? I did. I broke a drinking glass. I watched it as if caught in a bubble of slow motion. It slipped out of my little fingers, turned elegantly in the air, and shattered on the floor.
I have no idea how long I stood there and stared at the broken pieces at my feet. There was nothing I could do to fix the damage. The discovery of the crime was inevitable. The fear, the guilt, the certainty of doom, all clouded my thoughts. Of all the things I could have done, I picked the stupidest: I remember trying to stuff broken glass down the drain. I was, of course, caught. And I did, of course, get into deep trouble – not because I broke the glass, but because I tried to hide it.
God loves us so much more, and He is eager to forgive us when we make mistakes, so why do we continue to hide things from Him? Why do we carry the guilt and fear when we could easily give it all over to Him? We need forgiveness and God will give it, but we have to come forward and ask Him for it.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) is a prayer that can help us do this:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
By saying this prayer with an honest heart, we begin to put an end to our childish responses. It will begin a maturity in our spiritual lives as we learn to trust His will, His power, and His love for us. It will help us to open our souls to God and allow him in. Through God’s guidance, our desire to change will build and our need to leave behind old habits will grow.
Our Lord knows what we bury deep within our hearts. His love surrounds us. When we truly understand this we will become more able to accept his guidance. We will know that our Lord has forgiven us. We will know that he is not towering over us in judgement, but instead protecting us from evil. There is no hiding, there is only God’s love.
Did you ever try to hide anything as a child in an attempt to escape getting into trouble?
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14 comments:
Such a comforting post, Lynda, and so similar to my husband's sermon at church this morning. It's amazing to me how the Holy Spirit does that over and over.
Pam Williams
Good post. Ironically, when we try to hide our sin we keep it alive. It is only through confession that we expose the roots of the evil and are free of it. Good thoughts.
What a wonderful post today. So thankful that he loves us even when we do things we shouldn't and then want to hide from Him. I've missed you. For some reason, your posts have not been coming up on my dashboard. Have a wonderful week!
It is a common malady, this hiding our wrongs, and it only leads to greater trouble further on. I love the verse, "Search my heart, O Lord..." Thank you for a lovely post, on a spring Sunday.
Rita, I took a month off from this blog. That might be why my posts weren't showing in your dashboard.
so glad to see you back! and i so enjoyed this great post today. i always get a huge blessing from your blog my friend!
One time I tried to hide and then ended up being instantly forgiven when "found out." I hid for no reason. You have reminded me once again hiding our mistakes can cause us needless suffering.
Longed to read a comforting post. Than you for sharing. He certainly does know our deepest need and pain. Blessings.
I went through a horrible period of rebellion, lying and sneaking around when I was a child. Thankfully, I eventually realized how much it was harming me and my relationship with my mother. I remember realizing in retrospect, as an adult, that my mother knew much more of what I did than I ever knew she did. Yet she forgave me and loved me anyway, never speaking of what she knew. We became extremely close after that period of life. Much as God completely wipes away our sins from His mind and wraps us in His loving arms again.
Glad you are back. I really enjoy your blog. It is our human nature to try to hide things from God (look at Adam and Eve). I'm so glad that we have a gracious and forgiving God who gladly welcomes us back with open arms if we only ask.
This would be a wonderful essay for a use in a religious studies setting. I have taught morality to 10th graders, and I know this would have generated a lot of discussion, introspection, and healing. Beautifully said.
Thank you, peace,
Diane
I know the feeling! The Psalm begins "Jehovah, thou hast searched me and known me" but, gaining in his knowledge of God the psalmist come to invite that searching.
Hello Lynda, Popped in to read your post today and landed reading a whole lot. Thanks again.
Of course I've hidden my mistakes but have learned that you can't hide from God. Once you come to realize that God is really real and not just some esoteric mumbo jumbo it tends to change the way you live and do things. There is much more I could say about forgineness but you already know all about it so I will leave your wonderful blog wishing you blessings and lots of love, Geoff.
Blessings to you, Geoff.
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