A few months ago, I was struggling with the way I viewed food and exercise. Unfortunately, I was making it more than a healthy lifestyle, and it was becoming something that all my life and thoughts revolved around. Slowly but surely, what started out as a passion became an idol. And I was obsessed with the way I looked and the food I consumed.
Why Accountability Healing Begins with Vulnerability
I had to take a moment to be vulnerable, and feeling led by the Holy Spirit, I asked my friend Ally to pray for me. I asked her to pray that the Lord would heal my relationship with food and exercise. And that He would help me live a healthy lifestyle while still putting Him on the throne of my heart.
How Accountability Healing Works in Christian Friendship
And not only did I confess and ask for prayer, but I also asked for accountability moving forward. I asked Ally to check on me if she ever thought I was over-exercising, like the times when I would go to the gym for three hours a day. And I asked her to help me enjoy fun foods in my diet again, in- stead of always restricting myself.
The Power of Accountability Healing Through Community
The power of accountability in the weeks and months after that was huge. It was hard for me to hide anything from her, because she was also my housemate. Living in commu- nity makes it difficult to live in sin, which is why it’s good not to be alone.
Why Accountability Healing Requires Honest Confession
James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Yes, God wants you to confess your sins to Him. But He also wants you to confess your sins to other people.
Something powerful happens when you take that thing you’ve been struggling with, that sin you just can’t shake, and you humble yourself and tell someone you can trust. What’s
important is not just that you are vulnerable with them but that after you confess, you also pray with the person you confessed to. Only then will there be healing.
Choosing Accountability Healing Through God’s Way
So, to get rid of sin in our lives, we must bring those dark spaces to light. We must be willing to be vulnerable and open with those we love. We must be willing to receive prayer that God would create a change in our lives. And we must be will- ing to choose to go another way—to follow God’s way and God’s Word.
Where to Find Accountability Healing in Community
If you don’t have a friend you can confess to, I encourage you to seek out any of the other resources we’ve mentioned: a Bible study, church community, online community (like the Tree), or school ministry.
Excerpted from The Sowing Season by Ashley Hetherington. Copyright © 2026 by Ashley Hetherington. Published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, LLC. Used by permission.
Ashley Hetherington is the author of the USA Today and ECPA bestseller The Joy of the In-Between. She is also a writer, speaker, content creator, Jesus lover, bookworm, and founder of The Honey Scoop, a platform that encourages and equips young women to grow their faith and reach their full potential in God. As someone with a passion for connecting with young women about the struggles of young adult life, Ashley is also the creator of a membership program, The Tree, an online community that helps young women connect with God and read the Bible. Through her writing and speaking, Ashley is a faith leader for those who want to know the Word of God and let truth transform their lives. She has a degree in journalism and interactive media studies from Miami University and resides in Los Angeles, California.
