I would argue that the biggest burden we try and carry is one that we don’t need to. That burden is identified and is two-fold: unconfessed sin and accepting forgiveness for confessed sin. There are a number of scriptures that speak to this, among them: 1 Peter 5:6-7, Psalms 55:22, 34:15, etc.
“If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
“You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it.” (Psalm 139:3-7)
“Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.” (Luke 12:2)
“Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived.” (Hebrews 4:13)
So what is our responsibility? Hiding or holding on to the burden of sin only increases our anxiety or frustration. If we feel far from God, this could be the reason. What to do?
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Unconfessed sin doesn’t need to control us. Neither does our confessed sin doesn’t need to hold us in bondage. These few verses identify what occurs when we try and hide our sins. Simply – it never works. Then it tells us what to do – confess.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
This one verse alone says it all. It tells us what the Lord does… but it is WE who have to accept our forgiveness and walk on. Sadly, too often we hold on to that feeling (feeling because it isn’t fact, truth), many times abetted by the devil. We HAVE to walk in our forgiveness – it will also remind us not to repeat and it might also remind us to extend mercy to those who wrong us.
“Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof…” (Matthew 6:34)… we don’t need to add unnecessary burden to this.
