We’ve heard the story of David and Bathsheba so many times. Out of familiarity, we can skip from David’s fall from grace to his restoration quickly because we know the point is that God forgives.

Still, at the time this happened, it wasn’t familiar or easy because the ending wasn’t clear yet. Like David, we should know that we can’t forgive on our own. Forgiveness must be wrought in our hearts by God. In His timing God does make all things new, but it’s a work of the spirit and not the flesh.

Part of loving God means praising Him because he does this work of forgiveness. I think getting too caught up in the how WE do reconciliation kills the joy of God’s work – a heart that really wants to praise God, it will find a way.

Similarly, a person who is really reconciled to God and others doesn’t need to go out of their way to show it – it will flow naturally out of their conversation because they speak from their heart and their heart reveals their true character.