When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! – Psalm 32:3-4, Amplified Bible (AMP)

There have been many times in my life when I have sinned against my Savior and NOT taken advantage of the promise of 1 John 1:9 (KJV):

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Either because of guilt or because of pride, I chose to run away from God rather than run to Him in repentance, and I can tell you – without any hesitation – that the times I’ve run from my Lord in sin have been the worst times of my life.

When we cling to our sin, our will fights against God’s will. As we strive against our Maker, we suffer an inner turmoil that weighs heavily on our spirits, and this heavy weight feels indeed like the very hand of God is pressing down upon us. Despite our Father’s efforts to use spiritual discomfort to prompt our repentance, we all too often value the pleasures of sin over the inner peace of a right relationship with God. The longer we make this foolish choice, the more likely it will be that God will choose to add physical discomfort to our spiritual discomfort. Then, on top of our inner turmoil, God will grant us outward turmoil in hopes that we will come to our senses.

If you lack peace in your heart today, ask yourself if you are harboring any unconfessed sin.  If you are, then confession is the surest path to peace. Each moment you choose not to take the path of confession is another moment you’ll experience spiritual turmoil, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself for lengthening your time of pain.