I think it’s safe to say that we have all been hurt by someone at some point in our lives. I know I have. How do you forgive someone who has hurt you so much? It seems nearly impossible.
Yet, Scripture is clear that God calls us to forgive every single person who hurts us. That’s right—every single one.
Jesus gave us an example of what this forgiveness looks like on the cross. In Luke 23:34a, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” In the midst of extreme hurt, Jesus chose to forgive. But how do we follow His perfect example?
True forgiveness is impossible apart from God. I gave partial forgiveness my entire life, because I had never experienced true forgiveness from God. It’s only when we experience perfect, true, complete forgiveness from God that we can extend that very same forgiveness to others.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32