Wet Clay

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

- James 5:16

Confession is hard. There is nothing comfortable about admitting failure. There is nothing glamorous about dragging your sin out into the light for others to see. You would think that confessing to close friends that you know and trust would make it easier. It doesn't.

I have come to learn that the preceding statements are true. I have also learned that confessing sins with brothers in the faith while praying with and for them is a beautiful practice. Yes, it's difficult and yes it's sometimes embarrassing, but it forces you to remember grace–something I struggle with remembering on a daily basis.

Confession takes humility. It makes you dependent. When you willingly shine light on your sin, you are saying, "I have had enough with this crap, and I can't do anything about it by myself." It forces you to rely on something other than your own strength. Confession takes a dry, broken soul and makes it wet clay ready to be molded by the Potter. It is then that people see not the beauty of the creation but the beauty of the Creator, the one who took something that was broken and not only fixed it but made it new.

Praise God for grace and mercy and making shattered things brand new.

Next time you see me in real life, let's talk about this.

Brett