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The Healing Power of Forgiveness 

Have you ever considered that forgiveness from God is linked to how we forgive others?

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). Paul builds on this in Colossians 3:13, “Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”  

The key to granting forgiveness is to remember how God forgave you. He didn’t forgive you because you deserved it. He forgave you because you asked for it. So, when someone sins against you, you must always be ready to grant forgiveness because of what God has done for you. 

Focusing on God’s amazing mercy and grace towards you, will prepare you to show mercy and grace to others when they sin against you. By extending forgiveness toward others, you open the door for God’s continued forgiveness in your life. 

Remember this truth. Granting forgiveness opens the door for receiving forgiveness.  

I (Jason Benham) will give you an example. A few years ago, a man sinned against me. Even though I didn't feel like forgiving him, I knew it was the right thing to do. And so, I forgave him.

Thankfully, after a few days, he called to apologize. It was a lot easier to hear him out on the phone because I had already forgiven him in my heart.

A few weeks later, as our boys were playing with each other out in the yard, my son said something to his boy that hurt his feelings. My son apologized, but when this man came out, he yelled at my son.  

You can imagine how I felt in that moment. I had granted him forgiveness, but he refused to give forgiveness to my son. As a father, I was extremely upset. But, by God’s grace, he repented and everything worked out just fine.  

It made me think of what God feels when we seek forgiveness from Him, but refuse to give it to His kids. Too many of us are walking around broken because there’s someone we have either sinned against and need to ask forgiveness, or there’s someone who’s sinned against us and we need to grant forgiveness. Either way, brokenness is cured through forgiveness.  

Where are you with forgiveness? Do you need to ask for it? Do you need to grant it? Ask God and He will reveal it to you.