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Christians are not supposed to sin, but if we do sin, we are not supposed to give up. Psalm 38:18, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalm 38:21-22, “Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.”

Psalms talks about this in verses 9-16. David had sinned, and oh, how he was paying his Sin! He had sown the seed of sin, and now he was reaping the terrible harvest. But he didn’t give up.

Let’s remember that though our friends may forsake us and though the enemy may attack us, God never gives up on His children. David said in verse 11, “My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.” Sometimes when we’ve disobeyed the Lord, even our closest friends and our nearest and dearest relatives are not of help to us. Sometimes we don’t tell them what’s happened because we’re ashamed. But even if they do know, sometimes they just avoid us. And of course, when we sin, the enemy wants to fight us. He is always waiting for an opportunity. “Those also who seek my life lay snares for me.” (verse 12). You’d think that after we’ve succumbed to temptation, the devil would leave us alone. No, he knows that we’re weak and discouraged, so he lays even more snares for us.

But God sees our heart. “Lord all my desire is before Thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee” (verse 9). God also hears our cry. “For in thee, O Lord, do I hope Thou will hear, O Lord my God” (verse 15). What will God hear? He will hear my prayer of confession and repentance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God in His government must allow us to reap what we sow. But God in His grace forgives us and cleanses us. Reaping the consequences of sin is one thing; experiencing the judgement of God for sin is quite something else. Don’t give up if you’ve stumbled and fallen. God sees our heart and hears our cry. He will forgive and restore us.

Have we ever been condemned by a friend or relative for a sin we committed? How did we feel? How can Romans 8:1 encouraged us? Brothers and Sisters, Don’t give up!