When Pride Makes Apology Difficult
Addictions
Day 18 of 21 · Tuesday 19 May 2026
Scripture reading
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18, KJV
Teaching lesson
Pride
He knew he had spoken too harshly.
She knew she had shut down and become cold.
But neither wanted to be the first to say, “I’m sorry.”
So, the silence stretched.
One hour became one day.One day became several days.
And what started as a small offence became a wall.
Pride can be one of the quietest but most damaging habits in marriage. It convinces us that apologising makes us weak. It tells us to protect our image rather than the relationship.
But in marriage, humility is not weakness. Humility is strength under God’s control.
Sometimes the healing your marriage needs is waiting on one simple sentence:
“I was wrong.”“I’m sorry.”“Please forgive me.”“Help me understand how that affected you.”
Pride asks, “Why should I go first?”Love asks, “What will help us heal?”
In marriage, the goal is not to prove who was more wrong. The goal is to restore what was damaged.
A sincere apology can soften a hard moment.A humble heart can open the door to peace.
Together
Your challenge
Each of you apologises for one thing, even if it feels small. Be specific and sincere.
On your own
To reflect on
- Where has pride made it difficult for me to apologise or change?
Prayer focus
“Lord, remove pride from my heart. Help me to value peace more than winning, humility more than image, and healing more than being right. Amen.”
With love and prayer,Sharlene
Vividly in Love offers encouragement and practical tools, not counselling. If your marriage is in a season that needs professional support, Sharlene’s counselling practice, Vivid Resolutions, works with adults and couples across the Caribbean.
This is not a crisis service. Emergency contacts vary across the Caribbean. If there is immediate danger, contact your local police or ambulance service. In Trinidad and Tobago: Police 999, Ambulance 811, or 800-COPE (2673) for a mental-health crisis.