Life tends to surprise us along the way. Throughout the different seasons, as we take the steps each day along the path of salvation, towards the hope that we hold onto, there are times when the path can feel a little disjointed or like a country lane, winding and turning until you feel the effects of it.

Perhaps a little anxiety creeps in, or the view ahead seems hazy and filled with fog, and you are not sure which way to turn, or what to make of the change in direction. Worry starts to take over, and the trust you had in Jesus seems to dwindle away for a time, and you begin to think he was never there in the first place. 

‘Sometimes it feels like God is a distant friend, but then I realise that it isn’t God that is distant, it is me. God is always there, close by and graciously nudging me in his direction.’ Francesca Price (Heartfelt Family Prayers and Devotionals) 

You were stepping along so well and now the bold edges that made the path so clear have merged into the surrounding landscape, but it’s not a lovely, fresh green pasture, it’s muddy and boggy. The kind that makes your wellies come off when you try to step out of it, like a vacuum that wants to pull you in. You feel like you are sinking, and panic starts to set in. 

Philippians 4:5-7 NIV says “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Anxiety, worry, panic, these can be all too familiar in motherhood. Sometimes it can’t be helped, we love our husband, our children and our family, and we worry about them, and occurrences that they experience. God knows this and helps us with a practical way to give us peace through his word. 

The trouble with worry, is that it is the opposite of what God wants for us, and it doesn’t display trust. Many times, I have come to the Lord in my prayers asking for forgiveness for my lack of trust, because I’m not believing in the faithfulness in the God who created me. 

Worry can result in similar manifestations to sin within a person, in that it swallows you up. That is until you confess and release the chains that keep you tied up in your sin.

Psalm 32 – Background

Psalm 32 is an expression of David’s experience after committing adultery. Instead of confessing his sin to God, David kept it from Him. The result of this was that David suffered far more. 

When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
 For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.

Psalm 32: 3-4 NIV

God brought David back to repentance, and he confessed his sin. 

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32: 5 NIV

What a wonderful reminder of God’s grace and mercy towards us! 

David’s sin was forgiven, and David is reminded once again of God’s faithfulness, loving counsel and unfailing love that surrounds all those who trust in him. 

Lessons from Psalm 32 for Moms

The psalm illustrates to us that when we confess our sins to God, we will know his faithful love towards us and his protection around us. 

Unconfessed Sin Causes Pain

When we carry the burden of sin on our shoulders, it manifests and causes our hearts to become hard, and we tend to make decisions that take us away from the will of God for our lives. It can even make us physically ill.

David said not confessing his sin lead to lack of energy, complaining day and night, heaviness in spirit, and he felt as if he was wasting away.

Confess Sin in Prayer

By recognizing our sin and acknowledging it, we can be free from the pain within us, the anguish and misery that David the psalmist describes. We do this by opening our hearts to God in prayer. 

Proverbs 28:13 NIV says “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

By humbling ourselves before God, surrendering, and confessing to him that we are broken and have been walking along the wrong path, he will deliver us and we no longer need suffer in chains. 

‘Lord, you are my secret hiding place, protecting me from these troubles, surrounding me with songs of gladness! Your joyous shouts of rescue release my breakthrough.’

Psalm 32:7

The worry, anxiety and panic that develops from loosing sight of God is replaced with God’s counsel, through his Spirit, God will gently lead us and teach us. We should receive this amazing blessing that God wants to give us, and let go of trying to work things out in our own strength. 

Find Freedom in Forgiveness

Confession brings freedom, and trusting in God brings freedom because you are surrendering your circumstances to the one who knows all the details, and the one who is in control.  

In Psalm 34:4 NIV, David tells us again of how he cried out to the Lord in his distress, and God answers Him, 

“He delivered me from all my fears.”

Sometimes we don’t want to wait for God to answer, but the bible tells us that when we wait patiently for Him, he will hear our cry. (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV)

Questions to Ponder from Psalm 32

• Have you ever been so worried that your strength has been sapped and your inner life has dried up like a spiritual drought within your soul, as David shares in Psalm 32? Take some time to think about how you felt and what cares you took to God.

• Sometimes we try take on all the responsibilities in our role as mothers, and in other areas of our lives. Is there is something God is showing you that he desires for you and your heart is not aligned with the same desire?

• Take some time to meditate on the Psalm and ask God to reveal to you if there are any areas in your life that need to be confessed or surrendered to Him. 

• We don’t always realize it, but there are times when we haven’t asked God’s forgiveness in our hearts. Is there anything in your life stopping you from receiving the freedom God wants to experience?

Prayer Guide for Psalm 32

Praise

Thank you for your precious word and for speaking truth into my heart today. I know that I don’t always fully trust in your ways, and I try to do things my way instead of committing these ways to you. I want to glorify you.

You are full of grace and mercy, would you set me free from anxiety, worry and fear that consumes me and causes me to become overwhelmed and spiritually dry.

Confession

Forgive me for my doubts and my unbelief. Lead me by your spirit as I release the burdens I carry and surrender all to you Jesus. 

Please forgive me and show me your ways once again so that I can live my life in obedience to you God.

Requests

Please don’t turn your face away from me. I cry out to you and ask that you would open the eyes of my heart to see you. Pull me out of this deep pit that I’m stuck in, shine your light on my life and release me from my sins and burdens.

I pray that I would believe what you say to me in your word, and when life bring difficulty and trials, I would remember your loving eye on me and the protection of your wings that surround me. 

As I bring up my children in the way of the Lord, as I shine the light of Jesus into the heart of our family home through your spirit, and as I take faithful steps towards you each day, I pray that I would hold onto the hope I have in you and the promises you speak over our lives. 

Yield

Thank you that I can rejoice in you because of the precious gift of life you have given me, thank you for your sovereign love and your gentle nudges. Please align my hearts desires with the desires you have for my life and my children’s lives Lord. I praise you for your goodness and unfailing love. Please protect my thoughts and keep me from temptations. My perfect redeemer. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Short Daily Devotions from the Psalms

Guest Blogger Bio.

Francesca is a wife, a mother to three young children, a nurse and a kingdom writer.  She started to write about her journey in motherhood in 2016, when she first became a believer in Jesus. Her passion has always been to write to encourage in motherhood, and to speak into the hearts of all families. Her desire is to bring the hope of Jesus through devotional writing and scripture filled prayers, that have been inspired through her own faith journey.