There is no cut to our heart that can compare to the understood burden of sin. The weight of our actions, when seen in comparison to the holiness of God is devastating and appropriately so. Standing apart from God because of our sin, yet fully aware of its burden is enough to tear our resolve to shreds and to decimate our pride.

Sin is a heavier burden than we ever truly want to admit. Its horrendous effects are difficult to focus on because the conviction of truth, God’s truth, is more than enough to poke holes in any façade and to tear down any battlements we may construct in our hearts. It all depends on how we respond to the presentation of truth and the weight of conviction. Do we turn inwardly, deeper in our sin? Do we weep and confess our wrongs? Do we retreat from reality and build new defenses, new lies to hide behind? Do we humbly admit our wrongs and seek His forgiveness?

David was fully aware of the depth of his offense here in Psalm 38. The faster we let go of pride and listen to the love behind the conviction, the better off we are. The more we struggle, fight and deny our role, the deeper our sin takes us. Conviction is meant to lead to confession, confession to repentance and repentance into grace by faith in Christ. It is that grace that redeems us, and no effort of our own. Conviction is what gets our attention and turns our hearts toward God. It forces us to see our sun in the light of His holiness and in that place, none can stand.

If God chooses for us to become vehicles for His convicting truth in the life of another, we had better be sure to speak it truthfully and with the same grace, love and mercy that we would want to have if we were on the receiving end of it. GoLove in the truth and do not waiver. His ways are perfect and indisputable.

“1 Lord, do not punish me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.
2 For Your arrows have sunk into me,
and Your hand has pressed down on me.
3 There is no health in my body
because of Your indignation;
there is no strength in my bones
because of my sin.
4 For my sins have flooded over my head;
they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.
5 My wounds are foul and festering
because of my foolishness.
6 I am bent over and brought low;
all day long I go around in mourning.
7 For my loins are full of burning pain,
and there is no health in my body.
8 I am faint and severely crushed;
I groan because of the anguish of my heart.
9 Lord, my every desire is known to You;
my sighing is not hidden from You.
10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,
and even the light of my eyes has faded.
11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,
and my relatives stand at a distance.
12 Those who seek my life set traps,
and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me;
they plot treachery all day long.
13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.
I am like a speechless person
who does not open his mouth.
14 I am like a man who does not hear
and has no arguments in his mouth.
15 I put my hope in You, Lord;
You will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, ‘Don’t let them rejoice over me —
those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.’
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is constantly with me.
18 So I confess my guilt;
I am anxious because of my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful;
many hate me for no reason.
20 Those who repay evil for good
attack me for pursuing good.
21 Lord, do not abandon me;
my God, do not be far from me.
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my Savior.”
Psalm 38