How to Forgive the UnforgivableSýnishorn

Forgiveness Frees Us from Vengeance

Jesus tells us to forgive our brothers if they sin against us. Moreover, He tells us to forgive a person seven times in the same day, if they repent before us. Of course, if a person sins against us again and again and asks for forgiveness, after a while, we start doubting such individual’s sincerity. However, Jesus tells us to keep forgiving because He raises the standard high. We are obligated to forgive because of how much was forgiven to us.

Think about the biblical story of Joseph. His brothers did a horrific thing to him. They sold him into slavery. He had been a slave and a prisoner and went through awful circumstances before He became the second-in-command in Egypt. When his brothers finally met him again, he had all the right to execute vengeance against them. But he forgave. He even wept when he saw his brothers, despite everything they had done against him. Joseph had a different perspective of the events that happened to him. He knew that his brothers meant what they did for evil, but God meant it for good.

One of the ways we learn to forgive is by trusting in God's sovereign control over all events in our lives. Although God does not approve of all that happens, He is able to use even the evil actions of others for His glory and our good. This trust allows us to release the desire for vengeance, knowing that ultimate justice belongs to God. It does not mean that God approves of everything that happens to us. It does not mean that God smiles over everything that happens to us. We have to acknowledge the reality of evil in this world. Joseph told his brothers, “You meant it for evil.” He did not underestimate the evil done against him. However, the beauty of being loved by God, which is described in the Scripture, is that God is at work in our lives making all things work together for good.

When we love God and are called according to His purpose, God is able to take what is meant against us and use it for His glory and for our eternal good. We need to maintain such perspective. This will help us to keep our hearts soft even in the face of things that people may do to destroy us. When Joseph forgave his brothers, he said, “Am I in the place of God?” He refused to take vengeance. The Bible tells us that vengeance belongs to God. When we forgive, we acknowledge that. We are not qualified to execute vengeance on various situations. God is.