If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. I John 1:9 (Amplified Bible, AMP)

God always has our best interests at heart. Everything He does is for our good. When we sin, He is always willing to forgive us and wipe the slate clean as if we’d never sinned- but we must confess it before Him. God cannot forgive hidden, unconfessed sin.

Often this means we have to come to the realization that we have sinned and missed the mark. When we see that we have fallen short, we have to be honest with ourselves and with God. We cannot skirt the issue or dance around it. We have to meet it head on and be straight forward about what we have done. Hidden sin is really not hidden to God- He sees it all anyway- and it pleases Him when we come to Him and tell Him what we’ve done in honesty and humility. Our repentance releases His forgiveness and cleansing.

For example, if you’ve lied to someone, go to God and tell Him, “I lied.” Don’t try to sugar coat it. There is no way to sugar coat sin to make it more palatable. Sin is sin- and to try to paint it as something else is failing to be honest before the Lord. We cannot truly repent and turn away from it if we don’t want to identify our sin for what it really is.

That does not mean that we must feel guilty forever and make a big production out of confessing our sin to God. Once we honestly confess it, He has forgiven it, and we can go on as if it never happened. Once sin has been forgiven, God chooses never to remember it again, and so should we. When we come clean before God, He makes us clean in His sight.