When Affliction Brings Our Sins to Mind

February 16, 2026/Daniel Rowlands/
Photo Credit: ValentijnTempels / iStock.com

Photo Credit: ValentijnTempels / iStock.com

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Afflictions tend to bring into sharp focus regrets of our lives, especially past sins. My own particular affliction at this time is an aggressive form of cancer. But to be careful here, the cancer is not necessarily caused by any particular sin (note well the man born blind—not a result of sin but so that God’s work would be displayed in him—John 9:3). Nevertheless, God our Father disciplines those whom he loves (Heb. 12:5–6). Afflictions drive us to cry out to God in prayer while strengthening our faith in him. They also bring to mind our sins.

Psalm 40 gives words to the anguish of remembering our failures.

Psalm 40 effectively describes what it is like to remember our sinful failings. The psalmist writes:

…evils have encompassed me
    beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
    and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
    my heart fails me. (v. 12)

His heart aches for the evils and iniquities that he knows are more than the hairs of his head, just as our own hearts feel the wounds, shame, and sadness of our sins remembered. They assault us like evil enemies. They weaken our faith with doubts—“Am I really saved? Am I truly a child of God?” We confess our sins in prayer to God, acknowledging the battle our new self wages against the old sinful and corrupt self—our spirit renewed in Christ Jesus fighting the old flesh of sin (Rom. 7:15–23; Eph. 4:22–24). And each sin remembered frustrates us and grieves our hearts.

Yet in our distress the Lord draws us back to his steadfast love.

At times like this the psalmist draws us back to the God of our salvation:

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
    your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
    ever preserve me! (Ps. 40:11)

In prayer we cry out like the psalmist:

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
    O LORD, make haste to help me! (Ps. 40:13)

The psalm concludes with this confession and supplication:

As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God! (Ps. 40:17)

In Christ we are assured of full and final forgiveness.

Then the Lord reminds us through the words of Scripture of his forgiveness—the forgiveness we have in Christ Jesus, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He declares to us the peace and comfort of forgiveness:

though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool. (Isa. 1:18)

Through the psalmist God assures us of his deliverance and salvation from our sins, iniquities, and transgressions of his law:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Ps. 103:11–12)

Therefore, we sing with renewed joy in the God who delivers us.

Afflictions that lead us to remember former sins are painful; the heartache of failure is discouraging. But remembering God our Father, who sent his Son into this world to take away our sins and to save us to eternal life, where there is no more sin or failure, is the comfort we need. Remember how he pours out his grace upon us with steadfast love and faithfulness. Trust in Christ Jesus for your forgiveness and deliverance once and for all and sing with joy like the psalmist:

He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the LORD. (Ps. 40:2–3)

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