When You're The One Who Needs To Apologize

D E V O T I O N A L

It stung.

I sat in the office chair, rehearsing the words in my head before I said them out loud. My pride was screaming at me to justify myself, to explain my side, to make sure they understood why I reacted the way I did.

But I knew. Deep down, I knew. I was in the wrong.

Admittedly, I can be a bit stubborn. I do not like being wrong. I do not like admitting when I have messed up. And apologizing? That feels like handing someone a piece of my dignity and hoping they do not crush it.

But as I sat there, I had to let the courage of being wrong disarm the pride of ego.

I took a breath.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten loud and let my emotions take over."

The words felt heavy leaving my mouth. Vulnerable. Exposed. Like I had just handed over power I did not want to give up.

But something shifted when I said them. Not immediately. Not dramatically. But quietly. A weight I did not realize I was carrying started to lift.

Here's what I needed to hear: apologizing is not weakness. It is one of the most courageous acts of faith we can offer.

We have no problem talking about forgiveness when we are the ones who have been hurt. We preach grace. We quote scripture about letting go. We remind ourselves that holding onto bitterness only poisons us.

But what about when we are the ones who caused the hurt? When we are the ones who need to own our part? When we are the ones who have to lower ourselves and say, "I was wrong"?

That is a different kind of hard.

Because pride does not want to apologize. Pride wants to protect itself. It wants to justify. To minimize. To shift blame. To make sure everyone knows it was not entirely our fault.

But following Christ sometimes means lowering yourself first. It means choosing humility over being right. It means prioritizing relationship over reputation.

And that takes courage.

What Scripture Says…

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." — Matthew 5:23-24

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." — James 4:10

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." — 1 John 1:9

Notice what Jesus said. First go and be reconciled. Not after they apologize to you. Not after they understand your side. Not after you feel like it. First.

Because God values reconciliation more than our pride. He values humility more than our need to be right.

I think about the story Jesus told of the prodigal son. The son who demanded his inheritance, squandered it, and ended up eating with pigs. When he finally came to his senses, he rehearsed his apology. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

He did not make excuses. He did not blame his circumstances. He did not try to minimize what he had done. He owned it. Fully. Humbly.

And his father ran to him. Not because the son deserved it. But because humility opens the door to grace.

I think about Jesus washing the disciples' feet. God in human form, kneeling on the ground, washing the dirt off the feet of men who would betray Him, deny Him, abandon Him. He lowered Himself. Not because He had to. But because He chose to model what humility looks like.

If Jesus, sinless and perfect, could humble Himself like that, how much more should we be willing to humble ourselves when we are actually wrong?

Apologizing is not just about the other person. It is about who we are becoming in Christ.

Pride keeps us stuck. Humility sets us free. When we refuse to apologize, we carry the weight of unresolved conflict. We replay the argument. We justify ourselves over and over. We build walls to protect our ego.

But when we humble ourselves and say, "I was wrong. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?" something powerful happens. We break the cycle. We open the door to healing. We step into the kind of maturity that reflects Christ.

And yes, sometimes the other person will not receive it well. Sometimes they will throw it back in your face. Sometimes they will hold onto the offense even after you apologize.

But that is not your responsibility. Your responsibility is to own your part. To humble yourself. To do what is right, regardless of how they respond.

So if there is someone you need to apologize to, do not wait. Do not let pride convince you that they owe you an apology first. Do not let fear of rejection keep you silent.

Just say it. "I was wrong. I am sorry."

And let God do the rest.

Much Love & Blessings,

Ramzi

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Family

Pride destroys families faster than almost anything else. When you are wrong with your spouse, your kids, your parents, apologize. Do not make excuses. Do not say, "I'm sorry, but you..." Just own your part. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have said that. Will you forgive me?" Your family does not need you to be perfect. They need you to be humble enough to admit when you are not.

Relationships

Friendships die when neither person will apologize first. If you know you hurt someone, do not wait for them to reach out. You reach out. Apologize. Even if they were also wrong, own your part. Reconciliation starts when someone is willing to humble themselves. Let that someone be you. The relationship might not survive if both of you insist on being right.

Mental Health

Unresolved guilt eats at you. If you are carrying the weight of something you did wrong and have not apologized for, it is affecting your mental health more than you realize. Anxiety. Shame. Avoidance. These things grow when we refuse to deal with our wrongs. Apologize. Clear your conscience. Let the weight go. Your mental peace depends on your willingness to humble yourself and make things right.

Finances

If you made a financial mistake that affected others, own it. If you did not pay someone back. If you broke something and did not replace it. If you caused financial harm through your actions. Apologize and make restitution where you can. God honors integrity. Even if you cannot fully fix the financial damage, the act of humbling yourself and trying makes a difference. Do not let pride keep you from doing what is right.

Physical Health

Your body holds the stress of unresolved conflict. When you refuse to apologize, the tension lives in your body. Tight shoulders. Clenched jaw. Stomach issues. Headaches. Let your body experience the relief that comes from humility. Apologize. Release the tension. Your physical health improves when you stop carrying the weight of pride and start living in the freedom of humility.

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"Apologizing is not weakness. It is one of the most courageous acts of faith we can offer."

P.S. If you are reading this while knowing you owe someone an apology but pride is keeping you silent, take the step. Send the text. Make the call. Have the conversation. It will be uncomfortable. But freedom is on the other side of humility. And the longer you wait, the harder it gets. Say it today. "I was wrong. I am sorry." Let God handle the rest.

Lord,

You know how hard it is for me to admit when I am wrong. My pride wants to protect itself. My ego wants to justify. My fear wants to avoid the vulnerability of apologizing.

But I know You call me to humility. Forgive me for the times I have let pride keep me from making things right.

Give me the courage to say, "I was wrong. I am sorry." Help me own my part without excuses or conditions. Teach me to value reconciliation more than being right.

If there is someone I need to apologize to, bring them to mind right now. Give me the strength to reach out. To humble myself. To make it right.

Thank You that humility is not weakness. It is Christlikeness. Help me become more like You.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

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