My husband took a senior pastor position at a new church a few years ago. Walking through the doors of that local church as their new pastor, I knew it would take a while for me to learn people’s names and stories. As we got to know the people in our congregation, we realized many people needed counseling as they struggled with various issues hindering them from experiencing a free life in Christ. On one Sunday, a woman came up to me. “Would you like to go to coffee?” she asked. 

On our coffee date, we shared our testimonies and told each other where God was currently at work. As I prayed for her, I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon my heart to continue our relationship and build trust so that I could help her with some of the issues of her past that were holding her back. It was clear during our conversations that she carried emotional baggage, and she still lived with shame and low self-worth due to the poor choices she made. She also struggled with understanding who God indeed was and his ability to forgive any past sins to which she had already confessed. Her low self-worth and skewed view of God hindered her from being an effective leader in the church. 

We decided to continue the relationship by reading a book together. This book dealt with emotional baggage and other factors that may inhibit a person’s productivity in their spiritual lives. When we got to the chapter on confession, she didn’t hesitate. She spent the first hour together confessing all her past sins. As we met week after week, I explained to her that God no longer held her past sins against her. His death on the cross atoned for all those sins she committed. 

James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (NIV) It is important to confess our sins not only to God but also to each other. 

Because of her vulnerability, I chose to do the same and confess my sins. Because our relationship grew from superficial to more vulnerable, I could share and confess other sins. That relationship helped me grow in my spiritual walk within those two years. During those times of confession, I understood why James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (NIV) It is important to confess our sins not only to God but also to each other. 

Confession is the Gateway to Repentance

It is easy to deceive ourselves into thinking my sin is not that bad. How bad can it be if no one knows about it and it’s not affecting anyone else? Yet, all sin separates us from God. It may not have hurt anyone directly, but it undoubtedly hurts my relationship with God. Because of the barrier of sin, I cannot achieve intimacy with Him over my shame and secrecy. 

Once I confessed my sins to my friend, sin’s hold on me was broken. I was no longer bound in repetitive sin patterns but could achieve freedom. Once the bond of sin was broken, I could turn away from my behavior. I wanted to keep my intimacy with God, and because of that, I was able to stop what I was doing because I knew it was hindering my relationship with Him.

Continuing in a sin pattern is easy until we know how it directly affects someone else. When we see the hurt and pain our sin causes, we are propelled to repent and turn the other way so that we can continue in intimacy with God and others. 

Confession Increases Humility

It’s never easy to confess a sin. Confessing that you’re not perfect takes a certain level of vulnerability and humility. Confession also involves risk as we confess to people we trust, hoping they will not use it against us. When we confess our sins, God increases our humility because he knows it is difficult to tell someone you are struggling. It is easier to have people believe in a façade of perfection. Confession breaks that facade and allows us to be who we are. We understand God’s unconditional love for us when we become who we are.

We understand God’s unconditional love for us when we become who we are.

Confession Professes Love

When we confess our sins, we stop putting ourselves first and instead can love others. When we confess our sins to God, we demonstrate that we love Him enough to want to break the stronghold of sin in our lives. Sin feeds our individualistic natures. When we confess, we put other people first. We choose to put God first in our lives, and we want to pursue our relationship with others. 

Confession tells others, “I’m not perfect. This is what I’ve done wrong. Help me become a better person.” When we confess our sins to God, he uses us in big and mighty ways because pride no longer fuels us but love and humility. He also surrounds us with people who will hold us accountable so sin cannot hinder our relationship again. 

Is there someone whom you can trust to confess your sins? Take a leap of faith and ask them today.