What to do When Your Weaknesses are Exposed

I throw the weighted jump rope to the mat and lean over, gulping deep breaths in and out like a fish on the dock. My body instinctively feeds my struggling heart more oxygen to slow its pace. Still pressing my upper body weight through my hands and onto my knees, I look up at the trainer.

“That thing makes me feel weak.” I say, in broken breaths, pointing to the thick braided rope.

“Yeah, but it’s making you so much stronger.” he replies.

I knew that, but I hated looking and feeling frail.

I’ve managed to avoid the jump rope for the last three months because it harbors no secrets. But now my secret is out. My heart muscle is out of shape.

In the same way, I avoid and deny my own sin. Admitting my secret sins to God and confessing them to another person makes me feel spiritually weak. Yet, God exposes the weakness of our spiritual hearts for the same purpose: to make us stronger.

I would rather tend my talents and garden my gifts than unearth my weaknesses. Unfortunately, just cultivating our strengths doesn’t override the sin slithering within. If we want to be healthier on the inside and more productive on the outside, we need to confront our weakness face to face, in confession to God.

The Road to Confessing Sin

The prelude to confessing sin requires an honest inventory of our hearts. The good news, God does the soul searching. Our hearts are in His hands. We can relax like children in His arms and trust His evaluation of us.

Here’s how Paul explains it,

….indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.(1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

Pruning and soul-sifting aid in the strengthening process. Pruning clips unproductive thoughts and activities from our lives. Soul-sifting surfaces hidden motivations and belief systems anchored in sin.

Both elicit pain. And both deliver us to the doorpost of confession.

The space between knowing our sin and actually confessing it is tumultuous.

Often I’m not ready to admit a weakness. Sometimes I believe the lie, “if I’m weak in a certain area I must be a weak person.” Believing that lie during seasons of pruning and soul-sifting prolongs our agony.

The truth is, new weaknesses don’t negate established strengths.

God has healed you and set His seal on those redeemed places. Confessing your newly exposed sins to God provides Him access to heal you in more places. And each new healing builds upon previous healings, strengthening us in every way.

Confession Defined

Confession in the Greek, exomologeó, has a prefix and a root word. The prefix ek means “out from and to”. The root, homologeo, means “confess, agree, align with, declare”.

In a way, confession means to come out from hiding and look into God’s eyes. Agree with His estimation of your weakness. Acknowledge it to Him and talk it through.

Did you notice shame or condemnation doesn’t exist in the Greek prefix and root word? Your weaknesses don’t surprise Him. God’s not shaming or blaming you. In fact He’s right there with you feeling the ache of your pain and process.

Confession is an exercise in healing. It unlocks denial and shame’s grip, connecting our broken pieces to God.

The momentary pain of exposure produces great rewards. Confessing sin makes our hearts stronger. It cleans us. It breaks cycles and changes our future actions. It births our freedom.

Do you have a safe person to confess the weaknesses of your heart? (James 5:16)

Steps to Healing

1. Ask God to search your heart. (Psalm 51)
2. Journal your prayers and thoughts.
3. When you recognize a weaknesses in your heart, write it down.
4. Once you have a weakness on paper, write, “and God is still with me”.
5. Find a friend or church leader to talk out your weaknesses with.
6. Pray together, ask God to forgive you and heal your heart.

In fact, we stand now reconciled and at peace with God….(Romans 5:11, Voice)

Further reading to kick shame out of bounds, Romans chapters 5-8.