God grants us the power to forgive those who caused our brokenness. Colossians 3:13 tells us to:
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13 NIV)
We have to remember that forgiveness is not for the other person, but for you. Forgiveness helps you to let go of the offense so you can heal and carry on with your life. Unforgiveness on the other hand, breeds bitterness, resentment, and prolonged anger that only further harms us. We can find the courage to forgive when we keep a few things in mind:
- God called us to forgive just as we have been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32) It is God’s desire that we remember we too need forgiving and extend that same grace.
- God will fight our battles for us. (Romans 12:19) It’s better to allow God’s justice to prevail than to seek out our own revenge.
- Forgiveness is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight, but something we experience as we seek God for strength and power.
- Sometimes the forgiveness we need to extend is not to another person, but to ourselves and God’s grace is available for that too.
Today, I encourage you to pray to God for courage to forgive, heal, and move forward in faith.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the courage to forgive those who may have hurt me, and thank you for forgiving me of my sins. Help me to move forward in faith and receive Your healing. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen.