⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 CSB)

Confession is good for the soul.

It is a letting go and knowing that through Christ blood we are forgiven of all our sins past, present and future.

This is not a license to simply go do what we want. No, it is an assurance that when we fail we need not worry that we will not be forgiven. However, this may not release us from the burden of guilt. We should feel remorse for our sinful nature, ask forgiveness and strive not to sin in the same way again.

Even with the guilt we feel there is a comfort in knowing that God will never forsake us, never leave us and will always be faithful to us.

But confession is good for the soul. Confess first to God and it is good too for us to confess to someone else. When we get our sin out into the light of day it makes the repentance more effective as we are holding ourselves accountable.

We are not creatures who want to display our wrongs. We want to bottle them up and cast them into the sea so that no one will ever see our true failure. But we fail in life, and especially where sin is involved because we live in a fallen state.

Release guilt and confess, even if it is only to God, so we can unburden our soul.