Colossians 3:13 (KJV)
13 "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to give but one of the most powerful gifts we can receive. When someone has hurt or wronged us, our natural instinct is to hold onto the pain, replaying the situation in our minds and allowing bitterness to take root. But Colossians 3:13 reminds us that forgiveness is a way to live like Christ.

Forgiveness isn’t about freeing them; it’s about freeing you.

Forgiveness is a choice to step out of the role of a victim and into the role of an overcomer. It’s not about excusing what someone did or pretending it didn’t hurt. It’s about releasing the power that hurt has over your heart and allowing God’s grace to fill the space where anger and pain once resided. 

When you forgive, you’re not losing, you’re winning by letting go of what’s been holding you back.

Forgiving someone doesn’t mean they were right, and it doesn’t mean justice doesn’t matter. It means you’re choosing to let God handle what only He can. Holding onto unforgiveness keeps you locked in the role of a victim, replaying the pain and letting it define you. But when you forgive, you release yourself from that cycle. You allow God to heal your heart, to transform your pain into peace.

It lets you move forward without the burden of bitterness weighing you down.

When you hold onto unforgiveness, you remain tied to the pain of the past. But forgiveness allows you to step into a new role. One of strength, peace, and liberty. Jesus showed us what it means to overcome. Even as He hung on the cross, falsely accused and suffering for sins He didn’t commit, He said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do".

Once your forgive, you are no longer defined by what someone else did to you. We must remember that no amount of hurt can change your identity as a beloved child of God. When you forgive, you thrive. You break free from the chains of anger, resentment, and victimhood, stepping into the peace and joy that God has for you. Forgiveness allows you to focus on what truly matters which is a relationship with God and Jesus. 

I hope today we can break the cycle of pain and allow God's grace to flow inside of our hearts. Amen!