Forgiveness may be one of the hardest things God calls us to practice, whether toward others or toward ourselves. It doesn’t mean excusing evil or pretending nothing happened. It’s the deliberate, God-honoring choice to release resentment, let go of the desire for revenge, and trust our heavenly Father with justice. Even the world around us recognizes what Scripture has long taught: bitterness and grudges take a terrible toll. Depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, heart issues, cognitive decline, and even social isolation are often tied to resentment that has been carried for too long. But the deepest damage is spiritual, because unforgiveness disrupts our fellowship with the Father (1 John 2:9–11).
A central theme of Scripture is God’s willingness to forgive—again and again—even the most serious offenses committed against Him by the very people He loves. From the earliest pages of Genesis to the closing scenes of Revelation, God reveals Himself as compassionate, patient, and eager to restore. That is the pattern He sets for us.
Sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience, and the consequences of that moment have touched every human life since (Genesis 5:3). None of us can claim perfect obedience; to do so would be to call God a liar (1 John 1:8–10). But whatever our failures may be, God stands ready to forgive. He wants us not only to receive His forgiveness for ourselves, but to extend that same mercy to others. When we refuse to forgive, our prayers are hindered and our fellowship grows strained (Matthew 5:23–24; 6:15).
As much as we desire to please God, every one of us falls short at times. Scripture describes sin as a powerful spiritual force at work in the world—a force that gained its foothold when Adam stepped outside of God’s wisdom and into his own. Removed from the garden, Adam entered a world marked by confusion and chaos, relying on imperfect human reasoning instead of God’s perfect guidance. We, too, were born into that same fallen world and feel the weight of that same struggle. But God did not leave us without a remedy:
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee… and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
These promises are not complicated—they are wonderfully simple. When we acknowledge our sin openly before God, He forgives. When we confess, He cleanses. And if God Himself is eager to forgive you, then it is both reasonable and necessary to forgive yourself. The adversary would love for you to believe that God holds grudges or that your failures have placed you beyond His willingness to restore you. But guilt that clings and shame that crushes are not from the Father. His conviction leads to cleansing, not condemnation.
Yet for many believers, forgiving others can be even harder. When someone harms you—especially deliberately—the desire for justice or revenge can run deep. But Scripture makes it clear that refusing to forgive stunts our growth and poisons our hearts. The easiest way to soften your stance toward others is to remember the immeasurable mercy God extended to you. If He forgives a debt you could never repay, how can we withhold forgiveness from those whose offenses against us, though real, are so much smaller by comparison?
Throughout Scripture we see remarkable examples of forgiveness: Joseph releasing his brothers from guilt after years of betrayal; David sparing Saul’s life despite repeated attempts to kill him; Stephen praying for his executioners as stones struck him down; Jesus asking the Father to forgive the very men who tortured and crucified him. These were not small offenses—they were intentional, cruel, and deadly. And yet forgiveness triumphed.
Jesus illustrated God’s standard for forgiveness with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The first servant owed his king a debt so massive it would equal millions today—absolutely impossible to repay. Yet the king forgave it in full. But that same servant refused to forgive a fellow servant who owed him only a tiny amount. When the king heard, he was outraged—not because the debt was large, but because the forgiven man refused to pass on the mercy he had received.
The lesson is unmistakable: God has forgiven us far more than anyone will ever owe us. When we cling to bitterness, we resemble that unforgiving servant—and we forget the grace that rescued us.
So take a quiet moment and ask yourself: Is there anyone I’m still holding in my heart with resentment or unresolved anger? Sometimes unforgiveness hides deep, buried beneath years of moving on without ever truly letting go. Ask God to bring it to light. He does so not to condemn you, but to free you.
Few of us have suffered what Jesus or Stephen suffered. Yet both prayed for their killers in their final moments. Their example shows that forgiveness is not about the worthiness of the offender—it’s about the condition of your own heart and your trust in God’s justice.
Forgiveness can begin with a simple prayer:
“Father, I choose to forgive. I release this person into Your hands. Heal my heart and restore my peace.”
God knows every motive, every secret, every intention, and He will judge righteously. Your calling is to walk free.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
“Put on… mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:12–13).
When you choose to forgive, you do more than release someone else—you set your own heart free to walk in the life God always intended for you.
God bless you,
