“…While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV).

I caught up with her on the way to the parking lot: “Are you mad at me about that patient?” She and I had shared a heated conversation over a disagreement regarding a patient’s care. I eventually accepted her side of the argument and informed the patient. I thought it was behind me. This evening, the doctor and I had an open conversation led by my question above. I again explained to her my reason for advocating strongly for my patient. She then reminded me of my statement that had hurt her so badly: “You said to me, ‘Then you are going to have to go tell the patient about our change in plans!’” I remembered that statement and the tone I had used, and I responded, “That statement was emotional and was wrong. It was disrespectful, and I’m sorry.”

How hard it is to say, “I’m sorry,” when we really mean it. Such a confession means we are less than we thought we should be. It means we’ve hurt someone, and we care for the one we hurt. It means we’ve injured a relationship that needs mending.

It means we’ve been poor witnesses for our Savior. It hurts and it should.

But there’s a good side of sorry.

A good side of sorry is that sorry is a starting point:

You have to get to sorry before you can get to change.

I will be a better person because my colleague let me know I had failed.

Jesus began His kingdom message with the word, “Repent” (Mark 1:15, NIV).

That word starts it for all of us. Thank God for those who tell me where I have been wrong.

You have to get to sorry before you get to change.

But, do you have to get to sorry before you get to forgiveness?

Some people think you do with God. It’s certainly always best to repent and turn back to our Lord when we have turned away. Our relationship with Him becomes more distant when we walk in another direction. But does God save His forgiveness until we truly say we are sorry and turn back to Him?

When He hung from the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing’” (Luke 23:34a, NIV)—and He was speaking of those who did not even believe in Him. Will He forgive me any less for my sins today if I have not yet said, “I’m sorry?” Perhaps our “sorry” comes most profoundly when we realize we have already been forgiven.

The Perrys sing a wonderful song called, “A Million Reasons.” Within the lyrics is this fabulous line: “I’ve tried to run from Jesus but kept running into grace.”

The good thing about sorry is that sorry becomes a starting point for change. The good thing about grace is that it begins even before we are sorry.

Dear God,

Thank you for forgiving me, even before I am sorry. But help me be sorry and change.

Amen