Forgiving others is one of the hardest things to do, but through God’s eyes, it becomes a path to healing, peace, and freedom. Discover the true power of forgiveness in this inspiring story.
The Burden He Couldn’t Let Go
David sat alone in the church pew, his head bowed, hands clenched together.
He had carried this bitterness for years, and it had become a part of him.
The pain.
The betrayal.
The anger that refused to fade.
“How can I forgive someone who hurt me this deeply?” he whispered.
The words felt impossible, even in the quiet presence of God.
He had been wronged. He had suffered.
Why should he be the one to let it go?
As he wrestled with his thoughts, an elderly man—the church pastor—walked over and sat beside him.
“You look troubled, son.”
David exhaled sharply. “I know I should forgive. But I can’t. It feels… unfair.”
The pastor nodded slowly.
“Let me tell you a story.”
The Unforgiving Servant
The pastor opened his Bible and began to read a parable Jesus once told:
There was a servant who owed his king a great debt—so large that he could never repay it.
The king called for him and said, “You must pay your debt or be thrown into prison.”
The servant fell to his knees, pleading:
“Please, have mercy! Give me time, and I will pay you back everything!”
The king saw his desperation and forgave the entire debt.
Just like that, the man was free.
But what did he do next?
As he walked out of the palace, he saw another man—a fellow servant—who owed him a small amount of money.
Grabbing him by the throat, he demanded, “Pay me back what you owe!”
The man begged for mercy, just as he had done before the king.
But instead of forgiving, the servant threw him into prison until the debt was repaid.
When the king heard what had happened, he was furious.
“You wicked servant! I forgave you everything, yet you refused to show mercy to another!”
And so, the king handed him over to be punished.
The pastor closed the Bible and looked at David.
“Do you see?” he asked.
“We all carry debts. We all sin. But God forgives us completely. How can we then refuse to forgive others?”
David was silent.
He had never thought of it like that before.
Why Forgiveness is Hard (But Necessary)
“But what if they don’t deserve it?” David asked.
The pastor smiled gently.
“Son, forgiveness isn’t about whether they deserve it. It’s about setting yourself free.”
David frowned. “Free?”
“Yes,” the pastor said. “Unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy stone. The longer you hold onto it, the more it wears you down. But the moment you forgive, you lay it down—and your heart is light again.”
David thought about the bitterness he had carried for years.
Had it punished the person who hurt him?
No.
It had only chained him to the past.
The Power of Forgiveness Through God’s Eyes
God doesn’t ask us to forgive because it’s easy.
He asks us to forgive because:
He has already forgiven us.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:32
Holding onto resentment hurts us more than it hurts others.
“Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
— Ephesians 4:26-27
Forgiveness is an act of faith, trusting that God will handle justice.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
— Romans 12:19
David swallowed hard.
“But what if I don’t feel like forgiving?”
The pastor chuckled.
“You don’t have to feel like it. You just have to choose it.”
“Forgiveness is not a feeling—it’s an act of obedience. The feelings come later.”
David’s Choice
That night, David knelt beside his bed.
For the first time, he prayed not for revenge, but for healing.
“God, I don’t know how to do this. But I choose to forgive. I give You my pain. I trust You to handle the rest.”
The moment he spoke those words, something shifted inside him.
The anger loosened its grip.
The weight began to lift.
And for the first time in years, he felt…
Free.
How to Practice God’s Forgiveness in Your Life
If you’re struggling to forgive, here’s how to start:
1. Remember How Much You’ve Been Forgiven
- Think of all the times God has shown you mercy.
- If He forgives us, how can we refuse to do the same?
2. Choose Forgiveness (Even If You Don’t Feel It Yet)
- Forgiveness is an act of faith, not a feeling.
- Say, “God, I choose to forgive.” Even if your heart isn’t there yet, God will do the rest.
3. Pray for the Person Who Hurt You
- Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
- It’s hard to hate someone you’re praying for.
4. Let God Handle Justice
- Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing the wrong.
- It means trusting that God sees everything and will bring justice in His time.
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
— Luke 6:37
The Final Lesson: Forgiveness is Freedom
David never got an apology.
The person who hurt him never even knew he forgave them.
But that didn’t matter.
Because forgiveness wasn’t about them.
It was about setting himself free.
That is the power of forgiveness—not through human eyes, but through God’s.
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