Admitting Our Mistakes and Asking for Forgiveness

Just a few weeks ago, Liberty Mutual Insurance published results of their 2022 research from their “Responsibility Project.” Over 1,000 adults were asked about their attitudes toward responsibility. Participants were asked to define “personal responsibility.“ 46% choose “Doing what’s expected of you or what you’re supposed to do.” 31% choose “Admitting to or owning mistakes.” 23% chose “Doing something especially hard or challenging.” The definition I find interesting is “Admitting to or owning mistakes.” Admitting to mistakes or wrongs is foundational for followers of Jesus. Jesus taught the disciples to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses.” Confession is necessary for healthy and obedient living. Jesus famously challenged people to stop pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye and ignoring the log in their own eye. “Speck watching” and “Log denying” are both contrary to admitting mistakes. Steps 4 and 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous are about “admitting to or owning mistakes.” 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. One of the primary causes of broken relationships is unwillingness to admit wrongdoing. Over the years I’ve heard countless people complain “they never ask for forgiveness.” Forgiving others does not depend on the offender admitting their wrong or asking for forgiveness. BUT, living a healthy life IS dependent on admitting offenses and asking forgiveness. How are you doing in this area? Do you admit your offenses? Do you ask others for forgiveness? Your health as a person depends on admitting your wrongs and asking for forgiveness. Strive to make admission and confession part of your life.