2 Samuel 12:13-14 (New International Version)

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”

David thought he had successfully covered up his sins, and had “gotten away with it” but when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, he immediately confessed his sin. As a result, we see God’s plan and purpose of restoration at work and David was comforted in the assurance that his great sins were forgiven. Because David’s sins had reflected disreputably on the Lord, God’s plan included severe discipline. Discipline is always part of God’s work of restoring a sinner to fellowship with Himself. But even in the death of David and Bathsheba’s child, we find that David was comforted.

We see David moving on in life—in his marriage with Bathsheba, in his job as king of Israel, and in his defeat of Israel’s enemies. He didn’t do anything drastic or dramatic, like committing suicide or leaving the throne. He worshiped the Lord. He moved on in life with the responsibilities God had given him. David received the comfort that only God can give in the midst of guilt and grief. God was picking up the pieces in David’s life in a wonderful way—including the birth of a son, Solomon, by his wife Bathsheba—even though David would continue to face the consequences of his forgiven sin.

If we have sinned, we shouldn’t live the rest of our lives in depression or despair. We shouldn’t feel that we can never be useful to God again. Let us confess our sin. Acknowledge our guilt before God and ask for forgiveness. Get restored to fellowship with the Lord. We don’t need to live in the rehashed scenarios and the guilt and grief of our past. Yes, there will be scars, but we must get on with the responsibilities God has given us. We can do it because God’s comfort is available in the midst of guilt and grief.