The Courage to Say "I Was Wrong"

Ever avoided apologizing because admitting you were wrong felt too risky? In this episode, discover the spiritual power of a genuine, defenseless apology, and how four simple words might heal what years of excuses never could.Have you ever hurt someone and found yourself wrapping your apology in an excuse just to protect yourself?"I'm sorry, but if you hadn't…" "I'm sorry, but I was stressed." "I'm sorry, but you need to understand my side." The moment you add "but" to an apology, the person on the other end doesn't hear the sorry; they hear the excuse. Human nature constantly wants to justify itself. When we wound someone, our instinct is to explain, minimize, or shift blame. But a genuine, defenseless apology—one with no caveats, no spin, no self-protection- is one of the most powerful and Christlike things a person can offer.In this episode, we explore the remarkable story of Louie Amundson, whose ten-year-old daughter's school project about bullying resurfaced a memory he hadn't touched in over twenty years. He remembered a boy he and his friends had bullied through the hallways of their Alaska junior high. Instead of brushing it aside, Louie tracked down that boy, now a grown man named ChadMichael, and sent a message with no excuses and no explanations. Just: I was wrong. I'm sorry. You deserved better.Through his story and the healing promise of James 5:16, you'll see that confession and healing are directly connected. Not confession and shame. Not confession and rejection. Confession and healing. Dropping your defenses and owning your mistake might be the most courageous thing you do today, and it might be exactly what someone has been waiting years to hear.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:Why the "but" apology does more damage than no apology at allHow James 5:16 directly connects honest confession to the healing of broken relationshipsThe courage to reach out to one person this week with a genuine, defenseless apologyFour words, "I was wrong," might be the most healing sentence in the human language. And someone in your life may have been waiting years to hear you say them.Share This Episode:https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/201Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemailWant to keep these devotions coming? Please consider supporting this podcast.https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/support/Connect with BartFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylivesWebsite: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.comFeeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.Mentioned in this episode:Join Our Private Facebook CommunityIf you're looking for a place to connect with other Daily Devotions listeners and pray for each other, I'd love for you to join our private Facebook community group. Come find us at https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/group