The drought of summer

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalms 32:3-5) ~~~~ This sermon was preached at Priory Road Strict Baptist Chapel, Maidstone. ~~~~ *1/ The hand of the Lord turning our life into the drought of summer. 2/ The hand of the Lord bringing us to acknowledge and confession our sin. 3/ The hand of the Lord in blessing.* **Sermon summary:** This sermon explores the spiritual process by which God brings sinners to forgiveness through His chastening hand. Using Psalm 32, the text illustrates how divine affliction acts as a drought that strips away self-reliance and exposes the soul's need for a Saviour. The preacher emphasizes that this hardship is not punitive but pastoral, intended to break hardness of heart and lead individuals to honest confession. By acknowledging sin without hiding it, believers receive the assurance of complete pardon through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the message offers hope that God's discipline always leads to restoration and the blessing of renewed fellowship with Him.