6/20/26

Psalm 38:17-18 NASB95 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

The anguish of sin in the life of a follower of Christ is extreme. There are many different types of pain. Physical, Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual pain can all cause great suffering. All suffering is ultimately traced back to sin. This is because sin is what caused the fall of man in the first place. There was no suffering, no pain before sin.

When a lost person sins, they feel the suffering, but to them, this is normal, as it is the only life they have known. However, when a repentant believer and follower of Christ, sins, after experiencing the healing power of Jesus through his imputed righteousness, the pain is excruciating.

Adam Clarke, describes it this way, "What a grievous and bitter thing it is to sin against the Lord, and especially to sin after having known his mercy, and after having escaped from the corruption that is in the world.

David describes the pain of sin in the life of a believer as all-encompassing. Listen to His description in our scripture text.

Psalm 38:17-18 NASB95 — For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

He says, "I am ready to fall." This is the physical pain of hurting from fleshly suffering. Broken bones, punctures of the flesh, organ damage, and strain of connective tissue, are all physical pain. David feels and is tensed up as he is expecting this pain to intensify. (I am ready to fall).

Then he says, "My sorrow is continually before me." This is emotional pain. He suffers from great sorrow that never subsides. Brokenness of heart. I have disappointed my Lord. If you cause a loved one pain it transfers to you in the suffering of sorrow. Emotional pain is often severe and long lasting. David possibly felt this in the suffering of his infant son that was dying. Knowing that it was his own sin that brought about this pain in the baby, surely would have caused immense pain for David.

Then David says, For I confess my iniquity. This is the spiritual pain of sin. It always amazes me how hard it often is for a person to truly repent and admit their wrong or guilt. For some it is as difficult to say and mean, I am sorry, as it is for them to lick their own elbow. It is almost anatomically impossible for most people. For some it is like their mouth cannot move into the positions that are needed to say I am wrong, I am sorry. It causes them enormous pain. David in spiritual suffering says I confess my iniquity. The spiritual pain he felt for this sin was excruciating.

Then he says, I am full of anxiety because of my sin. There is the psychological pain of his sin. His heart beats rapidly and he can't catch his breath because of the anxiety of his sin. There is no physical reason for this. It is all psychological. His psyche knows that he has in sin turned against his Lord and anxiety is the painful response.

As we said to start, the anguish of sin in the life of a follower of Christ is extreme.

I was talking to someone yesterday who was broken and angry with themselves over a sin. This is a good thing. Not the sin, but the pain and suffering brought on by your sin. It means you realize you are causing the Holy Spirit inside of you to grieve. This is causing you anguish. Use this anguish to strive to live righteously.

John tells us in 1 John 1:8-10 NASB95 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

No one will be pain-free this side of heaven.

If you seldom feel this anguish because of sin it would be a good time to do some evaluation of your life.

It could be because you have matured through the Lordship of Christ. This is good and to God be the glory!

However, it could also be that you have never experienced the imputed righteousness of Christ. You are used to the pain and think it is normal. It is not and it is only the beginning. The pain will intensify to an intolerable amount upon death without Christ. However, you can live a life with little pain and glorious healing if you come to Christ in faith and follow Him!

Lastly, it could be that you have strayed so far and suffered and fought through so much pain in the past that your spiritual nervous system needs to be healed with the anointing ointment of peace in Christ. Get in His word and He will heal so you can feel His love again. God tells us this in Hosea 14:4 NASB95 I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them.

Pain is bad but as God tells us in Romans 8:28 NASB95 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Use the pain to cause you to repent and turn/return to God.

Love Bro. Scott