No one likes cleaning out a wound with antiseptic. It stings.

Little kids learn pretty quickly that they don’t love it when grown-ups want to clean out their scrapes.

But we all eventually learn to put up with the momentary burn in order to avoid an infection later.

Timothy Keller says repentance is like antiseptic. It stings to admit we were wrong. It hurts to swallow our pride, and ask for forgiveness. But the healing and reconciliation it brings is so worth it.

Take courage and embrace the burn.