It is so hard sometimes. You know what I mean? We hang on to the past, our past and we relive things over and over again in our hearts and minds. We let past hurts simmer and stew, we dwell on things that we now have no control over and we let those uncontrollable things exercise complete control over us.

It’s dumb, and for many of us, it’s our #1 pastime.

Listen to David struggling with his sin. It’s real. He regrets it. He hates that it was a part of him:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

He’s really struggling with it, and the reality of his unholy behavior is wrecking him. He has been split open, his weakness and pains all exposed. We all know this feeling. We know it too well.

This is part of being broken, seeing and feeling our brokenness. To a degree, this is good. This is where repentance is born. It is a grace to even see and recognize our need for God. So, it drives us to the only One who can heal us. It’s a perineal reminder that we aren’t enough. And God fills in the gap, He lavishes His rich grace over us and loves us at our lowest. This is where healing and holiness begin in us…at His hand of grace.

Listen to David’s heart sing as he is reminded of God’s offer and response to his terrible brokenness. This is so good:

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:6-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is so good! David immediately knows that this is too good for him, too much for him to contain. So his 1st response after praise, worship and adoration is to tell others. This is too good too keep to himself. This is what it means to experience grace.

Jesus echoes this repentant action later in the New Testament when He is confronted with a broken woman who sees her brokenness and a broken man who is blind to his own faults:

“Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon,

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:44-50‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is us. Over and over again, this is us. Live aware, see what’s been taken and healed and then, at the same time, let grace be grace for you and for someone else. We all need Him. We all need grace for ourselves and for others. That’s for certain.