The Importance of Confession


"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." — 1 John 1:8-9.

As we continue to talk about the way God speaks into our lives, we turn our gaze to confession. When people hear the word confession, likely the first thing that comes to mind is entering the confessional in a Catholic Church. And while that's part of it, real confession is something we all need to do, and more importantly all need to do with God.

But there are a couple things that come to mind when I think of the way confession works in our lives. There are a couple things we need to remember that are important in thinking about confession as a way that God speaks into our lives.

First, confession is good for the soul. As humans, we have a tendency to hang on to things. We obsess about things, think about things, and replay things that didn't go well in our minds. It sticks with us and haunts us. But when we confess those things to God and to others, it can be freeing.

You can't keep everything bottled up. You can't hold everything in. You can't pretend things didn't happen. God knows anyway. We can't hide from Him, and more importantly we shouldn't even try. When we confess, openly and honestly, it is freeing to our souls. That is how our relationship with God is supposed to work.

Second, we need to realize that God really does forgive us when we confess. Guilt is a big part of the human condition. It's also a big part of the religious traditions. With unconfessed sins, guilt is the still small voice from God that is prodding us to live our lives openly and honestly. Once we've confessed, guilt is the still small voice from the Devil that wants you to think you're unworthy and take you down the wrong path.

God is faithful and just. When we confess our sins to Him, we are forgiven. That is the promise of the Scriptures. If we are open, honest, and repentant, we don't have to wonder if we're forgiven. The Scriptures promise that we are. We just have to take the leap to believe it.

So this week, listen to that still small voice. Hear what it is saying, and discern who it comes from. This is a time to confess, openly and honestly, to feel the freedom of being forgiven.

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