Living in Increase (Part 4) - Increase in CommunitySample

Forgiving Friends

Have you ever been hurt by a friend? If you have, then you know that there are few greater pains than being stabbed in the back by someone who was supposed to have your back. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” so sometimes wounds from a friend can be beneficial (i.e., correction, a challenge, or a change in perspective). However, some wounds are not life-giving and hurt us in ways we do not deserve.

The pain of friendship wounds is so great because friendships, especially godly ones, run deeply. Remember what we said yesterday? Real friends stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). There is a deep connection, which means our friendships are close to our hearts. However, because we’re human, we’re not perfect. Even when we can be amazing, supportive friends, we (unfortunately) also have the ability to wound others deeply.

Proverbs 17:9 says that dwelling on a fault or offense separates close friends, meaning that faults and offenses can occur in close friendships. It’s possible to experience pain from someone you love and trust deeply. Therefore, forgiving is essential when a friend hurts us intentionally or unintentionally. “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven” (Proverbs 17:9), and when we choose to forgive those who have hurt us, we choose to love them. Likewise, we can’t really love others unless we forgive them.

I’m not sure what your current friendships look like, but if an offense has occurred, I encourage you to forgive that person today. There may be some instances where an offense between friends is too great to reconcile, but there is never an offense too great not to be forgiven. Choose to love your friends today and forgive them for their wrongdoing. Then, if the friendship is salvageable, work together to mend what’s broken.

Emily N. Green

Action Step: If a friend has hurt you, pray and forgive that person. If you have hurt a friend, apologize. If either friendship is mendable, take a step today to improve it.