Five LoavesBible verses about forgiveness
Forgiving and being forgiven are both hard. These seven passages begin with what has already been given to you, and move toward letting go of what you have been carrying.
For when someone has hurt you, or you can't forgive yourself. Forgiveness is a journey, not a switch. It never means pretending a wrong didn't happen, or staying somewhere unsafe.
Day 1 Forgiven first
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (King James Version)
Forgiveness begins with what God has done for us. When we confess, he is faithful to forgive and to cleanse. We don't forgive others from an empty place. We forgive from the fullness of having been forgiven ourselves.
Day 2 As far as the east
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:10-12 (King James Version)
God does not deal with us as our sins deserve. He removes them as far as the east is from the west, a distance that never ends. That is how completely he forgives. He doesn't keep a record to bring out later.
Day 3 Not seven, but seventy times seven
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22 (King James Version)
Peter thought seven times was generous. Jesus said seventy times seven, which means: keep going, without counting. Forgiveness is rarely one moment. Often we have to forgive the same hurt again each time it comes back to mind.
Day 4 Kind and tenderhearted
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 (King James Version)
Paul asks us to put away bitterness and anger, and to be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving as God forgave us. Bitterness promises protection but slowly poisons the one who holds it. Letting it go is a gift to yourself as well.
Day 5 Leave it with God
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Romans 12:17-19 (King James Version)
Forgiving doesn't mean saying what happened was fine. It means handing justice to God instead of carrying it yourself. Paul says to live at peace as far as it depends on you. Sometimes peace means distance, and that's allowed. Forgiveness never asks you to stay somewhere unsafe.
Day 6 Father, forgive them
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:34 (King James Version)
On the cross, in the middle of the worst injustice in history, Jesus prayed for the people hurting him. We may never feel ready to say those words. But we can ask the One who said them to help us mean them, a little more each day.
Day 7 Forgiving yourself
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isaiah 43:25 (King James Version)
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. But God says he blots out our sins and will not remember them. If God has chosen not to hold it against you, you don't have to keep holding it against yourself.