Psalm 32

1 Oh, what joy for those
 whose disobedience is forgiven,
 whose sin is put out of sight!

2 Yes, what joy for those
 whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

3 When I refused to confess my sin,
 my body wasted away,
 and I groaned all day long.

4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
 My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
 and stopped trying to hide my guilt. 
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
 And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
 that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 

7 For you are my hiding place;
 you protect me from trouble.
 You surround me with songs of victory.

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
 I will advise you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
 that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
 but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.

11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
 Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

During a recent road trip adventure, our family checked into a hotel, unloaded the luggage & left our precious pooch, Maggie in the room while we went to dinner. On the previous nights hotel stay, she had been content to take a nap while we were gone….but not this time.

Upon our return, we were unable to fully open the door to the suite. After our youngest daughter squeezed in to find out why she gasped, “oh, Maggie…what have you done?!”

We all stood there stunned- as we gazed upon the carpet and padding that had been ripped to shreds at the threshold.

Anger welled up in my heart as I considered the additional cost we’d be charged for the destruction.

Regret for not kenneling her flooded my mind.

And then compassion crept in as I realized she must have been suffering from severe separation anxiety.

One look from Doug and Maggie knew she was in trouble. One loud “bad” from me, followed by a pop on the nose sent her crawling under the table to hide.

She was guilty.

Some time later, after the general manager assessed the damage, Doug and I took a moment to process the event. Immediately after I went back over to our adopted dog and stood, staring into her beautiful brown eyes. She looked at me, and then looked away. This exchanged happened a handful of times before she eventually laid down and rolled over, begging me to love her, which I willingly did.

I sat there on my knees, stroking & kissing her furry head, overwhelmed by emotion as I realized our interaction mirrored my relationship with my Savior. The Holy Spirit confirmed my thoughts as Doug whispered, “what a picture of the Father’s love for us….”

The two of us then decided to take her for a walk around the surrounding area, so we laced up our tennis shoes and clipped her leash to the harness.

Her tail wagged.

No more hiding.

She was forgiven.

She was cleared of guilt.

She was free to trot along the pathway with us, enjoying our company.

As we walked, I wondered…

How many times have I suffered from separation anxiety when I’ve walked away from the Father?

How many times have I felt heavy from His hand of discipline?

How many times have I destroyed the carpet instead of submitting my fear to Him?

How many times have I looked away from His gaze, choosing instead to hide my shame under the table? 

How many times have I refused to be honest with Him (& others) by confessing and repenting for my sin?

How many times have I been that senseless horse or mule (or dog) who sometimes needs a bit and bridle (or kennel) to keep me under control?

Way too many to count.

But oh, what joy this adopted daughter has when I finally sit down before my Master, roll over and beg Him to forgive me! What love floods my soul as I am cleared of my guilt. What gratefulness I express when I know that my sins are put out of sight! What freedom I experience in walking with Him along the best pathway, knowing that He will advise and watch over me- always. For I believe that He is my hiding place and He will protect me from trouble, when I come to Him.