8/24
((from Brittany))

“Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

 

Have you ever messed up big? Had that feeling of deep guttural despair because you know that you hurt or disappointed someone?

When I read this portion of Psalm 51 I am reminded of specific moments when I’ve stayed awake, late at night, grieving the brokenness in my own heart.

The truth is, it’s easy to look at all the hurt and pain in the world and point our fingers at others. It’s easy to be wounded, devastated by others’ sin, while expecting grace for our own. But we all have our own broken junk that needs repairing.

Perhaps for some of you it’s pride and self-righteousness, not making room for the unwanted. Perhaps for others it’s an envious heart, coveting what the Lord has not given you. Maybe you have a sharp tongue that whips and lashes and hurts others when you’re hurting inside. Or maybe it’s your lust or addictions or abuse that is haunting the people in your life.

The truth is, we are all broken and in need of a Savior and what I love about the Psalms is that David, a man after God’s own heart, has shown us in Scripture that we not only grieve other’s sin against us, but we weep and pray and grieve over our own.

Look around at the blogosphere. There is SO MUCH out there for people walking through suffering caused by others. But how many blogs have you read about grieving and healing from the sin WE CHOOSE? How many blogs about suffering are about self-induced pain? Have you ever read a compassionate blog for the adulterer, the gossip, the murderer, or the money launderer?
No – but there are countless blogs for the victims (and rightfully so).

Here’s the thing church, if you are breathing and have a pulse, you have at one time or another contributed to the brokenness of this world. So this blogpost is for you, each of you. And for those of you who have made some AMAZINGLY HUGE MISTAKES, I want you to hear me loud and clear:

God’s grace is for you just as much as it is for the people you’ve wounded.

Do you deserve it?

No, but the truth is none of us do.

That’s the whole point of the Gospel – David knew that. But like David repented of adultery and murder, I’m begging you to stop wallowing in regret and run to repentance. I’m begging you to come to the saving understanding that God is big enough to redeem and restore whatever mess you’ve created.  Grieve your sin and its consequences, but run to Jesus with it. Rest in the knowledge that His love truly does win.

And if you are wrestling with despair due to your own sin, let me encourage you to keep showing up here at Hope is Hard. We’re walking through all of Psalm 51 and wrestling with David’s own story of sin and repentance, and this Psalm doesn’t leave us in grief. Grief and Repentance are only one part of the story; redemption awaits.

Did you hear that oh soul in the pit of despair? Redemption is waiting for you on the other side of repentance. Hope has come. It is here. Keep pursuing the One who blots out our sin, cleanses our hearts and renews our spirit. And if you don’t know where to start, well, I’ll leave you once again with David’s words…

 

“Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

 

Hoping and Repenting with you. Redemption is always waiting,
Brittany