It is better to be pruned to grow up than cut up to burn. Sickness and suffering in the lives of believers are not always the result of personal sin (Job 1-2), but sometimes they are. For example, Uzziah, king of Judah, was a prideful man who was struck with leprosy when he entered the holy place reserved only for the priest (2 Chronicles 26:16-23). Believers in Corinth suffered physically because of their sin in taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Much of the suffering and sickness that the godly experience is the direct result of sin. Such sins require confession before God (James 5:14-18).

God disciplines his children when they sin, not because he is unloving but because he does love them. True love is tough love. Real love seeks the highest and the best in the one who is loved. How a person reacts under God’s chastening hand reveals much about his spiritual condition. Wise and mature is the believer who humbles himself under God’s discipline and restrains his heart and mouth from rash sins.

In Psalm 38 David recorded the confession of his sin to God. He interpreted his sin as the direct cause of his painful experience. David realized his sin had brought the discipline of God. Psalm 38:1-22 reveals four crucial elements in the confession of sin. The first element is David’s cry in verses 1-4. David cried out for relief from the suffering for his sin. David said, “O Lord, do not rebuke me in your wrath, nor chasten me in your hot displeasure!” (verse 1) He realized he was suffering under the discipline of God. He continued, “For your arrows pierce me deeply, and your hand presses me down” (verse 2). Not all sickness is God’s punishment but it was in this case and David knew it. The guilt of his sin was too heavy to bear and he had to find relief.

The second element is David’s chastening in verses 5-16. David described the devastating effects of God’s discipline upon his life. He noted the direct effects between his sin and his suffering. The physical and psychological effects of his sin were unmistakable. His wounds festered (verse 5). His spirit mourned (verse 6). His body burned (verse 7). His heart groaned (verse 8). His soul sighed (verse 9). His strength failed (verse 10). His friends left (verse 11). His foes conspired (verse 12). His hearing and his speech failed (verses 13-16).

The third element is David’s confession in verses 17-20. David confessed his sin. Verses 17-18 read, “For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin.” Although he was suffering because of his sin he recognized that his enemies hated him without cause (verses 19-20).

The fourth element is David’s call in verses 21-22. David ended the psalm as he began it — by calling upon God to deliver him. “Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!” (verses 21-22). David asked God to come near and to come quickly. As believers we must confess our sins to God on a regular basis. Jesus in the model prayer instructed us to seek God’s forgiveness constantly (Matthew 6:12). Thomas Brooks said, “Where God loves, he afflicts in love, and wherever God afflicts in love there he will, first or last, teach such souls such lessons as shall do them good to all eternity.”

One of the best tests of any believer’s spiritual condition is not what he is when he is succeeding. Rather, the greatest disclosure of what he is occurs as he responds to difficult circumstances. Adversity reveals a person’s soul.

Thankfully, God’s forgiveness is available in Jesus. That is why the cross is central in the life of the believer. The heart of the gospel is the substitutionary death of God’s Son for our sins. We proclaim “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

We must declare the dying Lamb of God to a dying world, the only hope of eternal life for sinners. The King of kings and the Lord of lords was sent to die in our place. With his blood Jesus purchased our forgiveness. Turn to Jesus with confession and receive forgiveness today.

Ethan Hansen (ethanchansen@gci.net) is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.