“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” — Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)
Have you ever walked into church expecting comfort but left with a wound you never saw coming? Maybe it was a careless word from someone you respected. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding that spread faster than you could stop it. Or it was the silence of people you thought would stand by you. Church hurt cuts deep because it happens in the one place you hoped would be safe. The question is, will you let it define you, or will you choose to forgive?
In our anchor text, Apostle Paul reminds us that forgiveness is not optional for believers. He uses Christ as the ultimate example and calls us to respond with the same grace we have received. Just as Jesus forgave us while we were still sinners, we are to forgive others as an act of obedience and love. Forgiveness is how we reflect His heart, even when pain feels undeserved.
Peter once asked Jesus how many times he needed to forgive. The Lord’s reply stretched the imagination. Jesus told him the number of times: seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). He wasn’t asking you to keep count, but to keep your heart open. His words remind us that offences test the condition of our hearts. They reveal whether we will hold on to pain or allow grace to shape our response.
Forgiveness is not a one-time act but a continual choice to stay tender before God. It doesn’t erase the wrong, but it releases its grip. This allows peace and healing to take root in you. But when you refuse to forgive, bitterness begins to take root. Holding on to hurt poisons your heart and clouds your relationship with God. When you release the pain to Him, you receive His healing love, a love that comforts and reassures (Ephesians 4:31-32).
Beloved, forgiveness is not weakness; it is freedom. It restores peace, renews joy, and keeps your relationship with God unhindered. Choose to forgive, not because others deserve it, but because Christ forgave you (Colossians 3:13). This freedom empowers you and sets you free from bitterness and hurt.
Bible Reading Plan: Jeremiah 27–28; Hebrews 11:8–19