Owning Our Sin, Reclaiming Our Healing
Scripture Readings
Leviticus 1:1–5:26
Isaiah 43:21–44:23
Matthew 5:23–30
I endured childhood abuse and various other forms of trauma. One of my many unhealthy coping mechanisms was drugs, alcohol, sex, and food—anything to numb the pain, quiet the raging emotions, and silence the voices of shame and self-hatred.
During my time as an active addict, I became skilled at shifting blame to avoid the deep well of toxic shame that childhood abuse had planted deep in my soul. I found ways to manipulate situations in order to get my neglected, God-given needs met.
After years of riotous living, I hit bottom and cried out to Him.
He rescued me from myself.
Like the prodigal son, I returned to my Father’s house.
The Journey Toward Healing
On my journey toward healing and self-understanding, I enrolled in college and earned a degree in substance abuse counseling.
I attended numerous 12-step recovery meetings, where I often recognized my own story in the experiences of both men and women. Listening to their confessions awakened not only forgotten sins, but also deep emotions that had been buried in my heart and pushed to the back of my mind.
The layers of denial and blame-shifting ran deep, but hearing others’ stories helped break strongholds in my heart and mind.
The message of recovery gave me the courage to take ownership of my sins and stop blaming others.
Enter Leviticus
This week we begin the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus opens with instructions about sin offerings—a powerful reminder that when we become aware of sin, we must take responsibility for it.
Leviticus 4:22–23
“When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt… he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish.”
Leviticus 4:27–28
“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally… and realizes his guilt… he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.”
Leviticus 5:17
“If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.”
Leaders and common people—we are all in this together.
When unintentional sins occur, a person realizes they have stepped off the narrow path of righteousness. They then take responsibility for their actions and bring an offering.
In recovery language, this is called making amends.
Sometimes that looks like:
- Paying back money that was stolen
- Repairing property that was damaged
- Correcting a wrong that was done
It is the process of making things right.
Searching Our Hearts
Passover is just over the horizon.
Many people around the world will soon go through their homes with a fine-toothed comb—some even using a flashlight—to find crumbs hidden in the nooks and crannies.
They examine their homes for leaven, but they also examine their hearts.
The steps of recovery function much like that flashlight.
They help us uncover hidden crumbs of:
- anger
- anguish
- bitterness
- resentment
- hidden animosity
Recovery is about breaking the strongholds of denial.
Moving From Victim to Survivor
From a trauma perspective, healing often begins when survivors move beyond denial regarding the damage caused by the abuse they experienced.
They acknowledge the truth.
“This happened.”
“It hurt me.”
“It wasn’t my fault.”
Naming the truth breaks the spell of silence and shame.
It is the first act of reclaiming power.
Victims are often told to minimize, hide, or spiritualize their pain.
Overcomers do the opposite.
They allow themselves to feel:
- grief
- anger
- confusion
- betrayal
- fear
- relief
Feeling is not weakness.
It is the body finally telling the truth.
The body keeps the score.
Reclaiming Identity
Trauma steals a person’s sense of identity—the beautiful self that God lovingly knit together in their mother’s womb.
He created each person with:
- gifts
- talents
- intelligence
- creativity
- purpose
Overcomers slowly begin to reclaim that identity.
They begin to trust again:
- their instincts
- their memories
- their boundaries
They begin to honor themselves.
They learn to say:
- “No.”
- “This is not okay.”
- “I need space.”
Sometimes healing starts with small steps:
- not answering a phone call
- leaving a room
- declining an invitation
- saying, “I will think about that and get back to you”
Every healthy boundary becomes a brick in the foundation of freedom.
The Path of Recovery
Step 1: Admit and acknowledge unmanageability
Step 2: Come to believe that He can restore us
Step 3: Fully surrender
Step 4: Conduct a fearless moral inventory
Step 5: Confess our wrongs
Step 6: Become ready to have the strongholds removed
Step 7: Humbly ask Him to remove them
Step 8: Make a list of all the people harmed
Step 9: Seek forgiveness and make restitution
Step 10: Continue keeping our side of the path clean
Step 11: Seek Him constantly
Step 12: Help others find the narrow path
Walking the Ancient Path
Healing, repentance, and restoration all require courage.
But the path is not meant to be walked alone.
The same Father who called Israel to bring offerings for sin is the same Father who calls us home today.
And like the prodigal son, when we return—
He runs to meet us.
