by Justin Morton
Over the course of our lives, some words become easier for us to say. Many children do not struggle to say words like, “That’s mine. Give it to me”. As we get older, we find ourselves saying things like, “I’m too busy” or “There’s just not enough hours in the day.” But other phrases seem to be much harder for us. In fact, some of the hardest words to say in the English language are, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” So short and simple. And although all the words are pretty easy for us to pronounce, this phrases seems to be difficult.
One of the reasons this phrase is so difficult is because we often have a hard time admitting we are wrong. When we mess up, our gut reaction is to think of a justification for our actions. “I did this” or “I said that” because… Fill in the blank with our reason for justifying such actions. Only when we realize we have no way to justify our wrongs do we finally own up and say, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
As difficult as it is for us to admit we mess up and need forgiveness from others in our lives, it seems even more challenging to do this when we have sinned before God. Every one of us sins each day (Rom. 3:23). Messing up is not the problem. The problem for many of us is fessing up after messing up.
Remember the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11)? After David messed up, he could have confessed his sins and sought the forgiveness of Bathsheba, Uriah and God. But that is not what David did. Instead, he tried to cover up his sins on multiple occasions. When that did not work, David stooped to the lowest level imaginable; he had Uriah killed while he was out fighting on behalf of David and the people of Israel (2 Sam. 11:14-17). He did all of this simply because he could not admit he had done wrong.
The Bible teaches the importance of owning up to our mistakes and shortcomings. James said, “Therefore, confess you sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (Jam. 5:16). Friends, as difficult as it is, we should own up to our failures. We should be willing to come clean about our mistakes. Only then can we find peace and mercy. The wise man said, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov. 28:13). The apostle John said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9). Is it time for you to come clean before God and say, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me”?