So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying  ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 
Luke 17:3-5

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Sunday morning, I’m driving to Willow, and a red pick-up cuts me off. I hit the brake and swear—not swerve. Moments earlier, the driver had sped ahead of me then blinked the left turn signal. I didn’t let her in. She could easily have changed lanes when she was behind me, I reason. As it happens a few miles later, we both turn into the Willow parking lot. I found a spot to park far from her and moved on, taking some time to shake my frustration. 

Forgiving others who are rude is generally doable. But what if a major offense or crime is committed against us. How do we forgive others when they murder a family member, abuse us in some way, beat us so badly we need surgery, steal our rent money, or spread career-ending malicious gossip and false accusations? 

These examples are terrible, and real, and they feel unforgivable. Jesus experienced equally harmful treatment. Yet, when He was dying, He looked at His executioners and wrongdoers and said, “Father, forgive them.” He modeled forgiveness of grievous offenders, but how? 

When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane before His death, He prayed for divine strength (Matthew 26:36-46). His demonstration of forgiveness and grace on the cross was divine strength exemplified. We, too, can pray for divine strength to forgive.

In Matthew 6:14, Jesus explains, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” We all sin against God. We need the grace of His forgiveness for both eternal and daily life. Forgiveness is essential enough to be included in the Lord’s prayer. And Jesus punctuates our need to forgive in Matthew 6:15, “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” 

Forgiving others is vitally important in our spiritual journey. Praying for the grace and faith to forgive, especially the worst offenders, frees us to put it in God’s hands and to face, with faith, all opportunities we have to say, “I forgive you.”

Next Steps

In a time of prayer, think about someone who has offended you that you still hold hard feelings toward. Talk to God about it. Do you need his divine strength to forgive that person? Ask for it. Do you need a change of heart? Ask for it. Follow his promptings. Over time, notice how he answers your prayer for the strength and the faith to forgive—to say, “I forgive you.”