Forgiveness: A Surprising Way ForwardSample

Day 1: What is Forgiveness?

" 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." ~ Romans 12:19

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools of our counseling ministry. Some carry past hurts for years. Many have all but lost hope of finding real joy in this life. The practice of biblical forgiveness brings miraculous healing and freedom from past hurts.

Unfortunately, the concept of forgiveness has become muddled and confused. We’ve adopted catchy phrases, like, “Forgive and forget,” or “Let go and let God.” Hidden within these sentiments there may be an element of truth, but it is lost on most of us. Am I supposed to forget something so hurtful? Does God expect me to let them get away with it? Won’t they just keep hurting people? Worse yet, most have no idea how to put forgiveness into practice. We may find ourselves trying to forgive the same offenses over and over. We declare the words, “I forgive,” yet are left wondering why anger and pain still preoccupy our thoughts. The result? Many sincere followers of Jesus, despite our best efforts, remain stuck in unforgiveness.

We all experience hurt and betrayal. Our God-given sense of justice brings anger when the innocent suffer at the hands of a perpetrator. Seeing loved ones hurt is especially painful. Does God expect us to let offenders get away with harmful behavior? First-century churches regularly faced unfair discrimination and physical persecution. The Apostle Paul does not teach a vague credo like, “Let go and let God.” He does not suggest spiritually-induced amnesia, “Forgive and forget.” Paul gives a clear way forward. “Leave room for God’s wrath.” (Romans 12:19)

Forgiveness is giving God responsibility to make things right. We want justice because we are created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:25) When we see or experience mistreatment, our Heavenly Father does not ask us to be OK with it. Instead, He promises to bring perfect justice to everyone in the situation. No one gets away with willfully wounding another soul. God is not asking you to turn a blind eye. He is asking you, “Am I trustworthy? Will you trust me to make it right?”

Samuel records the story of Saul and David. Two men. Two Warriors. Two Kings. Two lives that both started with God’s blessing and unbounded potential but ended in starkly different circumstances. We will look closely at each man’s willingness or refusal to forgive and how their paths diverged.

Looking Deeper

How do David’s lyrics in Psalm 94 match up with the definition of forgiveness discussed in this devotional?

David faced attacks from enemies, allies, and even family. How might David’s prayer bring freedom from past offenses he suffered?

Are there past hurts or offenses that occupy your thoughts? Do you feel responsible to “make them understand how they hurt you” or “make sure they never do that to anyone again?”