--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Confession is a radical reliance on…" description: "\"“Confession is a radical reliance on grace. A proclamation of our trust in God’s goodness. “What I did was bad,” we acknowledge, “but your grace is gre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/max-lucado-190_trust_confession-is-a-radical-reliance-on-grac_788698.jpg" --- # Confession is a radical reliance on grace. A proclamation… ![“Confession is a radical reliance on grace. A proclamation of our trust in God’s goodness. “What I did was bad,” we acknowledge, “but your grace is greater than my sin, so I confess it.” If our understanding of grace is small, our confession will be small: reluctant, hesitant, hedged with excuses…” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/max-lucado-190_trust_confession-is-a-radical-reliance-on-grac_788698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/max-lucado-190_trust_confession-is-a-radical-reliance-on-grac_788698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/max-lucado-190_trust_confession-is-a-radical-reliance-on-grac_788698.jpg) > ““Confession is a radical reliance on grace. A proclamation of our trust in God’s goodness. “What I did was bad,” we acknowledge, “but your grace is greater than my sin, so I confess it.” If our understanding of grace is small, our confession will be small: reluctant, hesitant, hedged with excuses and qualifications, full of fear of punishment. But great grace creates an honest confession.”” [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confession reflects the depth of one's trust in divine grace; larger grace leads to honest, unguarded admission of wrongdoing. **In simple terms:** Confession shows how much we trust God's grace. Key Takeaway Embrace grace fully to confess openly. Themes faith humility honesty Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - counseling sessions - confessional rituals - community support Key Concepts theology psychology spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How does your view of grace affect your honesty? - What fears stop you from fully confessing? A Different Perspective Even great grace may be hindered by fear of judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [“your reading will be even better then, after a lifetime of thought and effort, because it will come from conscious understanding. Grace attained like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/your-reading-will-be-even-better-then-after-a-lifetime-of-thought-and/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [To conceal ignorance is to increase it. An honest confession of it, however, gives ground for the hope that it will diminish some day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/to-conceal-ignorance-is-to-increase-it-an-honest-confession-of-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“To go back and rehearse history, as painful as it may be, gives us the chance to face the actions and words of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-elise-cannon/to-go-back-and-rehearse-history-as-painful-as-it-may-be-gives-us-the/) Mae Elise Cannon > [“Your letter has drawn me from the solitude in which I had shut myself up for nearly nine months, and from which I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/your-letter-has-drawn-me-from-the-solitude-in-which-i-had-shut-myself/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [“Honest confession is an externalizing of an inward conversation for the purpose of gaining insight, releasing a burden, or admitting reality. Confession leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-green/honest-confession-is-an-externalizing-of-an-inward-conversation-for/) [Jocelyn Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-green/) > [Know what your sin is and confess it; but do not imagine that you have approved yourself a penitent by confessing sin in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-l-cuyler/know-what-your-sin-is-and-confess-it-but-do-not-imagine-that-you-have/) [Theodore L. Cuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-l-cuyler/) > [“I shouldn't be surprised. Catholicism is the ultimate loophole religion (sin, confess, repeat), so it makes sense that a priest would know better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-acito/i-shouldn-t-be-surprised-catholicism-is-the-ultimate-loophole/) [Marc Acito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-acito/) > [When a person is carrying their sin, it can be quite a load...I don't know what else to do with your sin but confess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/when-a-person-is-carrying-their-sin-it-can-be-quite-a-load-i-don-t/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [And the only thing to do with a sin is to confess, do penance and then, after some kind of decent interval, ask for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/and-the-only-thing-to-do-with-a-sin-is-to-confess-do-penance-and-then/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [“Our heavenly Father is never content with just controlling us. Control is no problem for him; he’s sovereign after all. But in grace he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/our-heavenly-father-is-never-content-with-just-controlling-us-control/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“it is completely contrary to the nature of sin to confess that one has sinned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-completely-contrary-to-the-nature-of-sin-to-confess-that-one/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God comes on his own terms. He comes when commands are revered, hearts are clean, and confession is made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-comes-on-his-own-terms-he-comes-when-commands-are-revered-hearts/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Boys say its great..boys say its fine... 9 months later boys say its not mine..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/boys-say-its-great-boys-say-its-fine-9-months-later-boys-say-its-not/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) ## More by Max Lucado > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) [Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More Confession quotes > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [Boys say its great..boys say its fine... 9 months later boys say its not mine..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-ngr/boys-say-its-great-boys-say-its-fine-9-months-later-boys-say-its-not/) [Simi Ngr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-ngr/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [A man does not have to feel less than human to realize his sin; oppositely, he has to realize that he gets no special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-man-does-not-have-to-feel-less-than-human-to-realize-his-sin/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“in other words, his story was part boast, part confession.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mezrich/in-other-words-his-story-was-part-boast-part-confession/) [Ben Mezrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mezrich/) > [“I have a confession to make.121 Almost every time I tune in to religious radio or TV, I want to change my religion. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-have-a-confession-to-make-121-almost-every-time-i-tune-in-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“I’m beginning to get the feeling that confession is what we need in order to forgive ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/i-m-beginning-to-get-the-feeling-that-confession-is-what-we-need-in/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. We must free ourselves from the obsession of thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/we-need-repentance-you-see-repentance-is-not-only-going-to-a-priest/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [You said, I love you. I said it too. The only difference is, I didn't lie to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-i-love-you-i-said-it-too-the-only-difference-is-i-didn-t-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 909 Confession quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confession/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Confession is a radical reliance on grace. 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