If you get a deep wooden splinter lodged in your hand, ignoring it won’t make it go away. If you just put a bandage over it and pretend it’s fine, it will eventually become infected, swollen, and incredibly painful. The only way to find relief is to endure the brief, sharp pain of pulling the splinter out into the light. Secrets are the splinters of the soul. Hiding our mistakes, our shame, and our bad habits in the dark only causes them to fester and make us spiritually sick. The scriptures tell us that while forgiveness is a transaction between us and God, healing happens in community. When we take the terrifying step of confessing our faults to another human being and praying together, we are pulling the splinter out. It hurts our ego for a moment, but the profound, lasting relief of being known and still loved is the beginning of true healing. | 
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