“Whoever conceals their sin does not prosper, but the one who confesses them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Have you ever hidden something about yourself?
Or carried something around that you felt ashamed about for so long that it started to eat away at you?
Most of us have – which is probably why the proverbial phrase “Confession is good for the soul,” is so well-known.
Confession is the admission of a fault, mistake, or crime.
It is the acknowledgement that not everything is good in our lives; that perhaps we are really struggling.
And the bible writers knew something that is only now being popularized by modern-day psychology:
It really IS good for you.
Words have power. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that our words can be life-giving. And in this Proverb text above, the author wants us to know that verbalizing our struggles in life can actually free us from the power our hidden struggles tend to have over us when we carry them all by ourselves.
Sharing our struggles and our sin with someone we trust – and then receiving their unconditional love, acceptance, and grace reminds us that we are not alone. It reminds us that we are more than our sin. It shows us - tangibly - the grace and mercy of God that is always available to greet us with open arms.
If you have ever had one of these exchanges – with your spouse, your child, that annoying neighbor, or your pastor – you know that they can be a game changer. They are the very key to our healing and ability to move forward in hope.
If you are struggling today and find that you are struggling all alone,
Don’t.
Ask God to help you find someone you trust and share your story.
Share your mistakes. Your shortcomings.
And trust – not only that they have their fair share –
but that God put them in your life to be an agent of healing.
Pastor Kate
