Have We Been Doing Confession Wrong?

Aloha Friends,

Have we been doing confession wrong?

Pastors John and Rhonda Cabello of New Hope Collective, Kaua’i showed up to the Brave & Bold One-Night event with a powerful testimony and teaching. Pastor John shared something on confession that I have never heard.

He said that, “confession isn’t just admitting the sin, it is agreeing with God about the sin”. I was so inspired that I did a short study and wanted to share it with you.

In the Bible, the word for “confess” (homologeō) means:

• To say the same thing as God.

• To agree with God.

• To come back into alignment with truth.

Confession is not simply admitting a mistake. It’s not a speech of shame or self-condemnation. Confession is returning to God’s heart, standing on His Word, and allowing His truth to wash over us.

When we confess, we are doing two things:

1. We name the truth honestly. We stop hiding. We say what really happened or what is really going on inside. This breaks the power of secrecy and fear.

2. We agree with God about it. We say, “God, this isn’t what You want for me. This doesn’t fit the person You’re shaping me to become.”

This is not self-hatred, this is alignment. It’s stepping back into the story God is writing over our life. Isn't that a powerful thought? When we trip up in life, we can re-orient ourselves to His Word and purpose for our life by confession. There is power in our verbal and heart felt confession that God's Word is true. Sometimes we can get into a habit of confessing sin while never stepping away from it completely. So let's agree with God and be empowered to live out real transformation.

Because here’s the miracle: Confession always meets grace. Always.

1 John 1:9 says that when we confess, God doesn’t shame us. He doesn’t withdraw. He moves toward us with forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.

For teens especially, confession can become a place of healing instead of fear when parents create safe and emotionally regulated spaces where teens can be re-oriented to their true identity and design. Confession says: I trust God enough to tell the truth. I trust grace enough to come into the light. I trust that I’m loved, even here.

Check in next week for some practical ideas and conversation starters to create a grace-filled culture around confession in your home.

If you missed the Brave & Bold One-Night Event, you won't want to miss the next one. Wait until I share some powerful insights from Nancy Vuu - stay tuned!

All Glory to the LORD our God,

Your Explicit Movement Ohana