The Power of Confession

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16a

Confession is a powerful thing. Why? I can't say for sure why, but I have a theory. After we stumble the enemy loves to heap shame on us. He wants us to feel shame for what we've done. Why shame? Because it isolates. It makes us think that we wouldn't have the acceptance of other Christians if they knew. So we withdraw. We hide. If we don't literally hide, we often hide behind imaginary walls or masks. And alone in that hiding, we slowly die.

But confession brings us out of hiding, tears down the walls, and pulls away the masks, which then allows us to encounter God's GRACE and healing. When we tell another believer what we've done and they still accept us, their acceptance is nothing less than God's own grace extended to us. The power of shame is broken and healing and restoration can take place in our hearts.

Now for the tough sell: Confession is the most powerful when we confess to someone older, especially someone we respect and look up to. Maybe it's because their acceptance is what we fear losing the most. (On the flip side, confessing to someone more than a year or two younger--unless they are older than 19--is not a good idea, especially if you are in a position of authority over them. In fact, I would ask that you do not do this at all within our ministry team.)

So here it is:

• If you are feeling shame for something you're hiding, don't waste any time--find someone you trust to confess to.
• If you are a teen, I know I speak for all the adults on our team when I say that we are available to talk and that you can trust us.
• If you are being confessed to please show love and acceptance, pray for them, and don't share it with anybody unless a life is threatened.
• If you are a teen and someone older is confessing things to you, please stop them and suggest that they talk to someone older.

Confess; it's for your own good! :)