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.

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.

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