FORGIVENESS

There are times when we get angry, when people hurt us, 
or when we feel betrayed. We have options at that point. We can hold on to anger forever, letting it build and fester inside of us, or we can let go of our anger and resentment in order to offer forgiveness. Understanding how to forgive others and learning to forgive ourselves comes from seeing God as the ultimate 
figure in how to forgive.

God's Forgiveness

 God is the most forgiving. Part of growing in our faith is to learn the spiritual discipline of confession, or asking God for forgiveness. God is the most forgiving of any sin, small to large. He understands that we all make mistakes. We all have our flaws. God understands that we are imperfect, but He gives us what we struggle to give one another - unconditional love. We often expect to pay for ours sins. And yes, there are consequences at times for our sins. Yet, just because we face consequences does not mean God has 
not forgiven us. In fact, sometimes those consequences are God offering us lessons that come from a place of love.

Ephesians 4:20-32 - That, however, is not the way of 
life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in 
accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your 
former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its 
deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on 
the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your 
neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin.” Do not 
let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a 
foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, 
doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to 
share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your 
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their 
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve 
the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get 
rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every 
form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, 
just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Forgiving Others

 Sometimes people do things that are just mean. Sometimes they mean it, and sometimes they 
don't. Either way, it can be very difficult to forgive someone who has hurt us. 
Yet, forgiveness is a choice. We can hold onto our resentment, build up grudges, 
and be continuously angry at someone who has done us wrong. 
Yet, does it do us all that much good? Often these types of grudges break ties 
with one another, draw lines between friends and 
family, and continue to build inside of us. There is a 
reason God asks us to forgive - it is freeing. We no longer have to control the 
situation or hold onto all that anger.

What forgiveness does not require us to do is forget. 

Forgiveness does not require us to completely forget that someone did us wrong. Even God does not forget our 
sins, He just chooses to forgive them. There are times when we need to remember 
that someone hurt us, because we need to avoid situations that allow him or her 
to hurt us again. Abusive relationships are a good example. We should not 
necessarily go back to the abuser because we forgave him or her. We can let go 
of the anger and resentment, but not forget the harm.

Ephesians 2:1-5 - As for you, you were dead in your 
transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of 
this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at 
work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, 
gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. 
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great 
love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we 
were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

THE 
FORGIVENESS JOURNEY

Answer these questions yes or no honestly as you can. Your answers to the following 
questions will give you a good picture of your current place on the journey toward forgiveness.

1. 
Do you have a story about someone who has wronged you, someone whom you have yet 
to forgive?

2. 
Are you aware of the price you are paying by not forgiving?

3. 
Have you made the choice to forgive?

4. 
Are you able to sufficiently change your story of hurt and suffering so it is 
less painful?

5. 
Has your new story of the old event given you a better perspective on life?

6. 
When a situation brings you back to feeling helpless, are you able to change 
that feeling?

7. 
Are you making progress toward achieving the goals you have 
set for yourself?

8. 
Are you more understanding of the other person's circumstances even though you 
disagree with what he or she did?

9. 
Have you reconciled with the person involved?

10. 
Has forgiveness brought you peace with God or greater clarity about your higher 
purpose in life?

You may not have been able to answer yes to all ten questions, that should not 
concern you at this point. Forgiveness is possible for you, one step at a 
time.