Notice His word to Solomon at finishing of the Temple. If my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. One stood up close, and trod on high, The other dared not lift up his eye, One nearer to God's altar trod, The other to the altar's God. When God's spotlight shines on our hearts and reveals sin there hidden though it be, we need to repent . Without it, we cannot have a restored relationship with Him.
Repentance involves confession of sin.
At times, such confession can actually be harmful. Confession of sin should never be more public than was knowledge of the sin committed. We often resist the revelation and hold on to the very things that keep us separated from Him. We are like the old woman that was brought into a psychiatric center. She was wild, swinging at everything in sight, and scaring everyone so much that the doctors had to take everything away from her.