Not too long ago, I suffered an emotional breakdown and had to be hospitalized temporarily. Since that time many of my past sins have surfaced in my memory. I am a believer and know all my sins have been forgiven. But I am heavily burdened by these sins and I want to confess them to someone. Who should I ask to hear my confession?
First of all, you should understand that these sins are coming to mind so you can forgive yourself because the Lord has already forgiven you. Colossians 2:13-14 tells us that when Jesus went to the cross He forgave us all our sins by nailing them to His cross and dying for them. As soon as you became a believer every sin of your life was washed away in His precious blood.
I agree that confessing these sins will be helpful for your recovery. But you should confess them to God, not to another person. 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If you think that making a formal confession is necessary to relieve the burden you’re carrying, write all your sins down in a letter to the Lord. On the first windy day take the letter outside to a private place and read it out loud to Him.
When you have finished reading the letter, set it on fire and burn it to ashes. Then, as you watch the wind blow the ashes away read Psalm 103:8-12. Verse 12 sums up the passage, saying “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”