If you’ve ever been around young children, you’ve probably witnessed this moment. A toddler is opening presents when another child grabs a new toy. The response? A quick shove and a snatched-back prize. Tears follow, and the familiar phrase is spoken: “Tell them you’re sorry. We don’t push people.”
That might be one of the first lessons on forgiveness we ever learn—or teach. At that age, it seems simple enough. But as we grow, we quickly realize forgiveness is anything but simple; it gets far more complicated.
The childhood shoves are replaced by deeper wounds—betrayal, broken trust, and hurtful words. Suddenly, a quick "I'm sorry" doesn't magically make things okay.
Forgiveness is something we all wrestle with because hurt is universal. We've all been wronged, and we've all faced tough questions like:
- Do I really have to forgive?
- Does forgiveness mean pretending nothing happened?
- What if the person who hurt me isn’t even sorry?
- Does forgiveness always mean reconciliation?
To make things even more complicated, Jesus seems to tie relational forgiveness to divine forgiveness. When He taught His disciples to pray, He said:
"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." – Matthew 6:12
That’s a challenging truth to navigate. How do you forgive when it feels impossible? What if you don’t even want to forgive?
If you've ever struggled to let go of an old wound or wondered how to handle fresh hurt, you're not alone. True forgiveness is a process—one that requires honesty, wisdom, and faith. Jesus’ teachings reveal why forgiveness matters and how choosing to forgive can unlock healing, peace, and freedom.
Maybe there's someone in your life carrying a weight they don’t know how to release. A conversation, a word of encouragement, or a simple act of kindness could make all the difference.
Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it is powerful. And it just might change everything.
