Guest Post by Author Lauri Thompson
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.”
Isaiah 44:22a (NIV).
When we lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, my husband and I visited the Smoky Mountains often. Even when our goal was not to spend time in the mountains themselves, our route to other destinations frequently took us through those same mountains. We learned that if we arrived on mountain roads before 10 or 10:30 a.m., we’d be driving in fog or mist – which can wrack one’s nerves.
We would sometimes struggle to see the painted road lines indicating our driving lane, and important road signs were easy to miss.
Once, the fog was so thick that we were startled when we found ourselves in the parking lot for a scenic overlook instead of on the highway. The car behind us followed us right off at the same exit, and the driver confided to us that the overlook was not his intention either.
How much more relaxing, pleasant and safe it was to navigate that area after the mist disappeared.
Similarly, our lives will be so much better if we regularly confess our wrongdoings to our Maker and believe Him that they are gone.
Sin and confession are not popular words in today’s society, but with sins confessed, while we will not be problem-free, we will see a clearer path as we journey on through life. And we will possess a joy and a freedom that cannot be felt if we cling to our sins, ignoring God’s nudges.
If you struggle with believing God could and would really forgive you, please look up I John 1:9.
Once the mist lifted on those drives, you can imagine how much we breathed sighs of relief and enjoyed the stunning scenery. What a contrast to navigating through that grueling heavy mountain fog.
“To confess your sins to God is not to tell [God] anything [God] doesn’t already know,” Frederick Buechner wrote. “Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge.”
So “confess sin instantly,” as F. B. Meyer urged. Why muddle around in the fog when you can experience light, clarity and inner peace? Confession has been called simply agreeing with God about your sin. I encourage you to do so.
A Wisconsin native, Lauri Lemke Thompson appreciates living with her husband in the lovely Ozark mountains in Branson, Missouri. She is active in Christian Women’s Connection (Stonecroft) and the Ozarks Chapter of the American Christian Writers. She published a book called Hitting Pause, a collection of her articles and devotions. Her bimonthly column appears in the Branson Globe newspaper.