READ: PSALM 32:1-5; 1 JOHN 1:7-9; 4:18

I watched as a droplet of shimmery liquid slipped to the floor. Regrettably, I realized too late that I shouldn’t have painted my nails while sitting on the carpet. What would my landlord say about this mistake? The carpet had looked new when I moved into the apartment. Would he charge me extra for marring the property?

I tried to blot the nail polish with a tissue but then made a happy discovery. The pattern of grays, tans, and browns in the carpet seemed to welcome the cinnamon-brown polish. That one little drop fit right in, and, once it dried, it was impossible to notice the stain—for anybody except me, of course. The carpet had hidden my blunder.

It’s natural to want to hide the evidence of our failings, especially if we fear punishment. But if we’ve trusted in Jesus Christ, He doesn’t just cover our sin…He completely removes the punishment of our sin and its power over us (Psalm 103:12). So now, we can live differently. We don’t have to be afraid of God’s punishment, so we don’t have to hide our failings. Once we put our faith in Jesus, who died to pay the penalty for our sins, we begin a relationship with God. So, how should we interact with our loving Father when we do wrong in His eyes?

God calls us to admit our sins to Him, to acknowledge them and not conceal them. While we might be able to hide our failures from other people, at least for a while, it’s impossible to hide things from God. He does know everything, after all. When we approach God honestly, we can experience freedom: the freedom of knowing how loved and accepted we are in Jesus (Hebrews 4:14-16). Our secure identity as God’s children means we can be real with Him about our faults and flaws, and we never need to hide. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Because of Jesus, we don’t have to hide any of our failures, whether they be mistakes (like spilling nail polish on carpet) or sins (anything we do, think, or say that goes against God’s good ways, see Matthew 22:36-40). Are there any sins you feel tempted to cover up? Consider taking a moment now to confess these sins to God, thanking Him for His forgiveness through Jesus.

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)