She wondered if she would ever dance again. Closing her eyes, she remembered the days when she danced with a freedom that flowed from following close by her Savior. Her steps were ordered by the music he had written for her life before the beginning of time. Each note sang a tune of truth that guided her steps. It was the life she was created and redeemed to live.
But one day she failed and fell. And the music seemed to stop and her freedom before God faded away. Her failure entangled her feet (Hebrews 12:1-2). Another tune began to play in her mind. The enemy of her soul formed a new tune by twisting her sin to form notes of condemning lies. The more she paid attention to the deceptive music, the louder it grew. In shame, she began to hide from Jesus instead coming to him to get the help she needed.
What we hide cannot heal. Honesty before Jesus and healing walk hand in hand.
Can you relate to the woman in this story? I can. At times of great failure when I needed God the most, I hid instead of finding healing through the gift of confession.
It would take a season of brokenness to find this beautiful blessing: God does not desire my perfection or my righteous acts – he wants me just as I am.
Only Jesus Can Provide Healing
Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31–32)
Jesus came with the medicine of mercy and sought sinners because only he could make them well. His purpose was to bring not only forgiveness but also transformation through repentance. Only Jesus has the authority to forgive sins, and only he can heal us from our sins and transform our lives.
- God wants intimacy with you, brave heart. Without authenticity, there is no intimacy. Come to him just as you are and bare your soul.
- God wants to transform your heart. He’s not merely a rule maker – he’s a heart changer. Jesus died FOR your sins – AND to FREE you from them as you lay your failures at his feet.
- God longs to help you find TRUE FREEDOM. Just as you would not hide an injury from a doctor – don’t hide from God what needs to heal. Only he can determine the root cause and heal you to FREE you.
Bring Your Sins to Jesus
Don’t condemn yourself for the sins you struggle with—bring them to Jesus, our Great Physician, through confession and ask him to transform you through the power of the Holy Spirit. He will heal you and set you free.
When we depend on Christ for our forgiveness and freedom from sin, we can walk away from the prison of guilt and experience his freedom and joy.
Confession also gives you the ability and understanding to forgive others more freely (Matthew 7:3). Confession ultimately yields authenticity and intimacy with God, freedom from perfectionism, and reliance on Christ to transform and restore you. (Hebrews 4:14–16).
“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4:14–16 MSG
As you bring your faults to him through confession and declare your dependence on him, he will lead you to repentance. Then trust and follow the voice of your Great Shepherd. As you abide in him, he will continually prune those branches that are not bearing fruit so that you can grow. This is a lifetime process.
Jesus knows your humanity; he recognizes your shortcomings. He is not shocked by your failures. He is not ashamed of you. He understands. When you fall and are hurting, Jesus is there to help you, not condemn you.
Recognizing your weaknesses can be one of your greatest strengths when you see it as a door to depending on Jesus.
ONWARD!
Nourish Scripture: Ruth 3:1-4:12
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Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
