“All of us, as Christians, acknowledge generally that we are sinners. Rarer is the Christian who opens up to another about exactly how he or she is a sinner. But in this honesty, life blossoms.” (Dane Ortlund)

The essence of being a Christian is confessing that we are a sinner in need of a Savior.  If this is true, why do we find it so hard to be honest with trusted fellow believers about our failures and weaknesses?  Why are we so slow to testify about the abundant grace we experience through Christ who is always faithful to forgive and cleanse a repentant heart? It is because of the pride in our hearts that we feel the need to protect our reputations. It can seem easier to hide our failures rather than to confess them. We like people to think that we have everything together even when we don’t.

I recently read a book called Retractions by Pat Nemmers and it was about cultivating humility after being humbled. It was such a refreshing book to read because he was so honest about his failures and the ways God worked through those times.  We all need the reminder that God is able to bring beauty from our ashes for we all stumble in many ways. So often we want to move on from our sin quickly and not dwell on it. It’s not about wallowing in guilt and shame; rather it’s about allowing our sin to be a reminder of our desperate need for Jesus.  Those times can also provide such a powerful opportunity to remind each other of the dangers of sin and to comfort each other that when we do fall, there is a throne of grace we can run to over and over again. God can use even our failures for His glory and our good!

James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another so that we may be healed.  This is one of my favorite verses because I have found it to be so true on several occasions. I find it so amazing how when I’ve confessed a specific sin to a friend, it often loses its attractiveness to me almost immediately.  Our pride blinds us to the freedom and healing that comes through confession of sin to God and one another. The power of sin is destroyed when it comes in the light. It is painful and humbling to confess where we are failing, but there is great joy in walking in honesty and freedom when we are not trying to conceal our failures.

We all go through hard times in life that cause us to be tempted to run to other things besides God, such as food, in an effort to deal with the pain; but that doesn’t change the necessity of owning our own sin. The desire to blame others has been around since humanity fell. As I take responsibility for my sin though, I’m finding that’s where true change begins. Closely connected to that also is the importance of inviting and listening to instruction and correction. The feeling of wanting to defend ourselves can be so strong and I’m definitely guilty of not always responding well in those times; but other people have insights we don’t have and they can see things we don’t see ourselves. It is a gift from God to have people in our lives who love us enough to risk relational strife in order to seek to help us when we are heading down a wrong path.

I’m learning that there is something so beautiful in humility as I confess my sin. It magnifies the greatness of Jesus. It puts me in my proper place as I see how desperately I need the grace of God.  It allows me to decrease and for God to increase in me. It allows for the blessing of forgiveness to shine.

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper. But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”  (Proverbs 28:13)