I Was Wrong

Church, have you ever noticed how hard it is to say three simple words?

I was wrong.

Even for me now, it’s strange how heavy those words can feel. It feels heavier than defending ourselves or explaining ourselves. It’s certainly heavier than changing the subject and moving on. It’s easy to do that.

We don’t like being wrong.

Sometimes it’s because we want to look competent. Sometimes it’s because we want to stay respected. Or because admitting wrong feels like losing, and we don’t like to lose, do we?

And yet, Scripture paints a very different picture. Proverbs 28:13 says: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Concealing does not always look like outright lying. Sometimes it looks smart and respectable. But is it any different? Underneath it’s still just self-protection.

Our pattern looks like this: Minimize, justify, explain our tone, our motives, our intentions, and by doing so, we build a case for ourselves to protect ourselves.

But brothers and sisters, followers of Jesus should be the freest people on earth to admit when we are wrong because our standing with God doesn’t rest on being right all the time.

The gospel has already settled the deepest verdict about us.

In Christ, we shouldn’t have to spend our lives protecting a reputation of righteousness. We can tell the truth about ourselves because Christians know the depth of our remaining sin, and we know the greater depth of God’s mercy. That should shape our marriages and the way we parent. It should change our friendships, strengthen leadership, and soften hard conversations.

What if the reason some conflicts linger, and some wounds fester, and some relationships grow cold is simply because nobody wants to be the first to humbly say, “I sinned. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”

Church, let me ask you, are you quicker to defend yourself than to examine yourself? Have you confused repenting with explaining? Have you been more committed to being perceived as right than growing in holiness?