HIDDEN SIN: Addressing the Things We Bury

What are you hiding under the rug? Often, we think that if we ignore our past hurts or secret struggles, they will simply disappear. But "Hidden Sin" acts as a silent barrier to God's blessings. Drawing from a personal story of unexpected conviction and the biblical account of Achan, this blog explores why we must ask God to search our hearts and how to replace hidden habits with the healing power of the Holy Spirit.

C. Atkinson

4/6/20243 min read

“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.” — Joshua 7:13 (NLT)

Hallelujah! Praise God! Behold how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity! The Lord rejoices when the Body of Christ comes together to pray, fellowship, and serve one another with His love. I truly pray you had a blessed week. Let us continue to encourage one another with the Word of God!

Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind

We’ve all heard the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” It suggests that if we don't see something, we stop thinking about it. In the life of a believer, "Hidden Sin" often operates this way. We bury it in a dark corner of our hearts and pretend it isn't there—until God uses a person or a circumstance to bring us under conviction.

I have a short testimony regarding this. During a Sunday school lesson on unforgiveness, I felt confident. I asked God, "Is there any unforgiveness hidden in my heart?" I felt a sense of peace, sure that I was clear.

However, God began to speak later that day. As I pulled into my parents' driveway for dinner, I saw a vehicle belonging to someone who had deeply hurt me in the past. My immediate reaction was to pull a U-turn and drive away. Instantly, the Holy Spirit convicted me: "Have you truly forgiven?" I sat in my car in shock. The pain was real, but the conviction was stronger. I realized I was trying to "run away" from a giant that was hindering my walk with God. That night, in tears, I asked the Lord to remove the hidden sins I was either unaware of or simply too afraid to bring to the surface.

The Danger of the "Rug"

We can go through our daily routines of prayer and worship while unknowingly harboring things God wants us to confess. Hidden sin acts as a barrier to God’s power, favor, and blessings. It’s like pushing dirt under a rug; it’s out of sight, but it still litters the house.

The roots of past hurts can become deeply embedded. As the Psalmist David prayed:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

In Joshua 7, we see how hidden sin—specifically Achan’s act of disobedience—didn't just affect him; it caused the entire nation of Israel to be defeated in battle. Hidden sin is never private; it eventually impacts our growth and our relationships with others.

Uprooting the Works of the Flesh

Removing these things can be uncomfortable. Paul lists the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, noting that those who live in hostility, jealousy, and anger will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But Jesus wants us to carry these burdens to the altar. He wants to replace the "hidden things" with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, and self-control.

How do we stay pure? Psalm 119:11 tells us: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." When we hide the Word, there is no room for sin to hide.

A Prayer for Purity

Dear Jesus, We know Your return is near. We present ourselves as living sacrifices, desiring a closer walk with You. Examine our hearts today. Forgive us for the sins we’ve tried to hide or ignore.

As David prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Cleanse us and wash us whiter than snow. We surrender every hidden hurt and every secret struggle to You. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight. Fill us with a hunger for You, and keep us in the palm of Your hand.

In the mighty name of Jesus, AMEN.