A real apology doesn’t have a “but” in it. God’s grace doesn’t either.

The word but reverses everything in front of it. An apology with one attached is a defence with a polite opening, and the person hearing it knows which part you meant. God’s grace works the same way in reverse, arriving with no conditions attached to the end of it. You have not been forgiven with a clause.

Take the apology you owe and say it with a full stop where the excuse wants to go. The explanation can come later, or not at all. Watch how much heavier and better the short version lands.