The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?” (Joshua 7:10 ESV).
The heart posture of the repenter—and often the physical posture as well—begins at ground level.
But there comes a time when he or she must stand up and get moving again.
Once the wrongdoing has been confessed, forgiveness sincerely sought, and appropriate restitution paid, God then calls on His men and women to return to His good work. He calls them to get up.
Shame and guilt are God’s agents, divinely summoned for the purpose of convicting those who stray and rebel.
And then these agents are divinely recalled when said strayers and rebels have repented.
So if you have sinned, and if you have repented … get up! Do not grovel in guilt when God wants you to stand in grace.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(Romans 5:1–2)