The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another.”

—James 5:16

Many of us find ourselves increasingly isolated. Even if we’re not alone in the physical sense, we’re often alone in all the ways that matter.

Our world has glorified independence and shunned vulnerability, and social media has created an excess of artificial relationships based almost solely upon what can be seen from the outside. 

For this to change, individuals—you and me—must step outside our comfort zones and start confessing our own sins. We must admit not only our need for help and support, but the responsibility we have toward each other. It will mean asking and being asked hard questions and giving and receiving tough answers. 

This will often mean reaching out in uncomfortable ways. Not everyone will welcome it. Many church–goers prefer the superficial status quo. They don’t want to need or be needed, and they don’t want to be accountable to or for others. 

But many are starving for connection.

Most of us have invisible burdens, invisible wounds, and invisible sins. We’re lonely, isolated in our struggles, and don’t feel like it’s safe to be honest with anyone. 

We can’t love one another fervently (1 Peter 1:22), encourage one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), turn each other back to the truth if we stray (James 5:19–20), nor bear those invisible burdens (Galatians 6:1–2) if we won’t open up about our sins and struggles.

Living in confession would prevent many secret temptations from growing into full–blown sin (James 1:14–15).

We must each humble ourselves in vulnerable confession and be willing to support and pray for others seeking to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

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