There are times—totally unpredictable—when different thoughts from different places collide to form a powerful understanding. These thoughts may be words that you’ve heard many times before, but without making a connection. What makes this understanding so powerful is that it explains a profound truth with clarity and simplicity. Here is one of those truths.

A person sitting alone in darkness, head bowed in contemplation.

God knows all. We hide all. (And when we acknowledge all) God forgives all.

Thought #1: God knows all

The Book of Common Prayer begins the Holy Eucharist: Rite II service with these words:

“Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid:â€

God knows all and nothing can be hidden from Him. This is both frightening and freeing.

Thought #2: We hide all

From the Bible, we know of David’s great sin of adultery with Bathsheba and his effort to cover his sin by arranging for Bathsheba’s husband to be killed in battle. 

The effect on David was turmoil of such great magnitude that “his soul was swollen with torrents of sorrowâ€* and his “bones wasted away through.. groaning all day long.â€

Thought #3: What we must do

David’s deplorable condition continued until he acknowledged his sin to the One who already knew:

Then I acknowledged my sin to you

    and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess

    my transgressions to the Lord.â€

Psalm 32:5

The effect of David’s acknowledgement was to reestablish a broken relationship.

The freeing idea: God forgives all when we confess all

And you forgave

    the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:5

What this means

The slate is wiped clean, we are once again connect to our God, and we can “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad.â€

Psalm 32:11

*Spurgeon, Morning And Evening Devotional,  September 14 Evening