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(presented by Lisa Bishop)
Do you find it hard to admit when you are wrong?
This week we have been talking about forgiveness, and today, I want to talk about playing your part in restoring and strengthening relationships through the power of an apology.
If we are honest, we can be prone to refusing to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness for our misgivings. We have a tendency not to see our faults but to be quick to point out the transgressions of others.
But as a follower of Jesus, we are called as 1 Peter 5:5-6 says,
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
When you come clean and confess your shortcomings, you humble yourself before God. Confession is not only the right thing to do, it is the righteous thing to do. Whether you gossiped about a coworker, lost your temper with a teammate, or neglected to follow-through on a commitment to a friend or family member, take responsibility for your failure.
As a first step, heed the words of 1 John 1:8-10.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Confess your sin to God, and then come clean with the person you hurt or offended. Take responsibility for your error. And when you do, be specific about what you are asking to be forgiven for.
For example, with a co-worker you might say, “I was wrong when I talked over you in the meeting. Will you forgive me?” Or when talking to a loved one, “I was impatient and overreacted. That is not how I want to be. Our relationship is important to me, will you forgive me?”
The key to apologizing is to be sincere and to make sure your admission is heartfelt, knowing that when you behave poorly it grieves the heart of God in addition to driving a wedge in relationships.
While a sincere apology will not guarantee that you will be given grace, a genuine request for forgiveness can be the start of a renewed relationship. Rather than settling for a fractured friendship, be humble, move toward reconciliation, and do your part to repair the damage and restore connection.
