Acknowledge and Own

What is the approach when a mistake is made? I know that I have experienced deflection and denial and excuses for the mistake and ultimately the mistake is blamed on someone else.

“¹²Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord: I will not be angry forever. ¹³Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. ¹⁴Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’” – Jeremiah 3:12-14 (ESV)

Here the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah and giving him direction on how to interact with the people. God makes it clear that the mistakes have been made and are clearly in the past. The Lord declares that He will move on from the mistakes of the past and provide for those that acknowledge the mistake.

I have seen too many times those that hold on to the lie to save face. Ultimately they are found out and the consequences are much worse than if the acknowledgment had occurred so that it could be dealt with and move on from. Denying, lying, making excuses, these are the actions displayed by those that are guilty and are not willing to take responsibility for their actions.

I remember many times in my career where I have been confronted about some actions I took or failed to take. I can tell that the one confronting me is looking for me to put up walls and deflect, deny, lie, or make excuses as to what happened. The deflation in their face and countenance when I acknowledge my mistake is amazing to behold. The fight in their demeanor is completely removed when I do not fight back and take ownership of the action or inaction. There is such a disbelief that at one point it was stated by the person, “you are not going to deny it, or try to wiggle out of it?”. (With that one, not another word was said about the incident and similar instances have never materialized.)

I am still responsible for the consequences of my actions, however those consequences are deemed adequate for the instance and are not revisited going forward. God wants the people to know that when they acknowledge their guilt He will put it in the past and move forward. The consequences of the actions are there, however they are overshadowed by the love displayed in the rewards for repentance.

What is your approach to mistakes or instances that come up in your life? Are you willing to take ownership in the action or inaction? Will you acknowledge the mistakes and guilt and own the instance and accept God’s declaration that He will move on?