The cancer and poison of unconfessed sin

Psalm 32

3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,

Here is the cry of a sinner that sounds a lot like mental illness. I am convinced from my own life experience and life observation that most onset (non physical injury) mental illness and insanity is the result of unconfessed and unrepentant sin. Notice the terrible consequences of this hidden sin: they are physical: bones, strength, uncontrolled body movements. They are emotional: groaning. They are mental: no understanding. They are social: woes of the wicked, must be physically restrained (padded cell, straight jacket, sedated possibly). It is not a pretty picture at all.
I remember many times in my life where the weight of hidden, unconfessed sin was crushing me in many of these ways. Fear of being caught in particular was extremely raw. In the 4th grade I caused an entire classroom to be flooded at West Newton Elementary school by some foolish actions that all the boys were doing but my hand was the final straw that busted the in class water fountain. Even as the students were all huddled on desktop I began the cover up that lasted for years. It was not until I was saved by Jesus some 12 years later that I confessed that sin to my parents.
This is what we do as sinners. From the garden fig leaves to an ornery boy in the 70s we are cover up artists for our sins. There is only one answer: Christ. Confess and repent and run to Christ in belief of His perfect life and His perfect answer in the cross. Notice the passage before us.
1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD "—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;

See the elements of confession and then forgiveness by God.

Finally, notice all the amazing benefits afforded by God in this passage. Spiritual health permeates our whole body both material and immaterial.

1 Blessed is he
2 Blessed is the man
5 you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
10 but the LORD's unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Singing before the Lord or silent shameful suffering.

Hey, don't feel bad, nobody told me either!

Well, this book was sure an eye-opener. "Nobody told me either!" is what I kept catching myself thinking as I read this  book. Oh sure I had most of the biology of sex and relationships down by late high school but the emotional and spiritual scars of fornication and adultery are still so shocking and sobering to hear.
This is a great book. This is a book I will have each of my own children read before they hit the "dating" years. This is a book that should be required reading in every middle school in the country. This is a book that every "dating" person of any age should read, reread and take on their date with them to be co-read by the couple. Sex outside of marriage is an extremely grievous condition to fall into. Pam lays out the truth in all its sad and gory detail in a modern, social networking format that is brilliant and will certainly keep the attention of any teenager. Using Facebook as the genre of writing is both brilliant and novel. Excellent job, Pam. I look forward to sharing this book's insights and inspirations toward godliness with as many who will listen.
A way I think the book could have been improved. Everything can be better, right? I wish Pam would explore and latch on to "courting" instead of "dating". Courting is a more Biblical, godly way to pursue marriage than dating which is quite worldly. Courting involves the whole family, commitments to all that Pam mentions in her book, but in the context of relationship for the sole purpose of marriage. She really needs to explore the purpose of her 'dating' advice at 16. I disagree wholeheartedly with that age.  I know she talks mostly to worldly people on school campuses who will continue to worldly date and "go steady" but standards are standards. Here is a better way. No "dating" or "courting" or whatever you want to call it until you can support a wife or are able and mature enough to be ready to marry. "Dating" is for spouse hunting not just something socially to do. Dating implies window shopping and try before you buy. Courting implies commitment with intention to marry. With that change of mindset everything changes with kids. I've rarely meet a teenager that is mature enough to be ready to marry and thus they should not be dating. This would improve this book greatly by adding a chapter on this topic: the better way. I know this sounds old fashioned and impossibly impractical in our modern age but I serve a God who is all that but provides the grace and strength to make all things possible.