Forgiveness is often the hardest work we will ever do because it goes against our basic human nature. When we are wronged, our natural instinct screams for consequences. We feel it is our right to demand restitution, and if we’re being honest, sometimes we even crave a bit of revenge. We want the scales to be balanced by our own hands.
We are most like God when we forgive.”
Rick Warren
However, when we choose to forgive, we make a conscious decision to release that desire for retaliation. It is the moment we stop being a prisoner to the past and start practicing the same grace that God has so lavishly poured out on us. Grace is God’s unmerited favor—the gift of redemption that none of us earned, yet is freely offered to everyone.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 ESV
It’s important to remember that forgiveness isn’t just a gift for the person who hurt us. It is a necessary act of self-preservation. It allows us to reset the grief and bitterness that, if left unchecked, will slowly eat away at our souls. By letting go, we stop the cycle of pain and reclaim our peace.
“For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.
Matthew 6:14 HCSB
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