Impact 360 Fellows

Before our Spiritual Rhythms retreat, I thought confession was an act of admitting my mistakes to the Lord. I viewed it as something that wasn’t very personal, but more like a business contract. I would think, “He’ll forgive me if I give Him my part of the deal.” I had sat at His feet many times, weeping under the heaviness of years of guilt piled up on my shoulders, yet I never truly felt forgiven.

This is the reality of the weight of sin. It can feel so heavy that it’s almost suffocating, keeping you from fully embracing and enjoying the gift of a relationship with the Lord. Looking back, I realized that I wasn’t allowing myself to believe what was already true. God had already forgiven me. He knew my heart before I ever spoke a word. He knew my desire to find peace in His presence without constantly carrying the burden of guilt and shame.

He changed my heart from being bitter toward myself and helped me stop viewing confession as a formal event that needed to take place in order to earn His love. Instead, He revealed something much more beautiful. Confession is an act of humility, honesty, and surrender before the Lord. It is coming before Him exactly as you are and trusting that His grace is enough. I began to picture Him sitting at a table, patiently waiting to hear my voice call out to Him.
The Lord also showed me how beautiful it is to let someone walk alongside you during those difficult seasons. Through the retreat, I was able to open up to my discipler, and together we spent time in Scripture and prayer. She reminded me of the importance of obedience to the Lord. Even though we will continue to face trials and temptations, God’s grace is freely given, and obedience to His calling matters more than we often realize.

I am incredibly thankful for a discipler who loves me enough to walk beside me, point me back to Christ, and remind me of His objective truth. Most of all, I am thankful to the Lord for showing me what true confession and forgiveness really look like.