Saying “Sorry” whether for spilled milk, broken hearts, failure to follow through or even inattention may seem appropriate but how sincere is it? Are we really sorry? Intend to not do it again. Mean it from the heart.
There are several mentions in the Bible of repentance with ‘sackcloth and ashes’ as outward signs of regret for past actions and the intention to change future behavior. So we have the inward versus outward expression in ‘rend your hearts and not your garments.’ When God calls us to change our ways towards Him, He is desiring the inner change more than any appearance. If our whole heart is back after His desires, our actions are likely to have more endurance than the momentary regrets. Fasting, weeping and mourning all are meant to be expressions of inner desires and acknowledgments of the depth of repentance we feel as we want to turn back to the LORD.
There is an open encouragement in this heart-path,
God is not waiting for repentance so He can beat us with a stick but instead ‘He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love AND He relents over disaster.’ His drawing us near to Him is corrective and not punitive. He does not want us to receive the disaster of our consequences but prefers us living in His steadfast love. Amen.