Forgiveness is a gift I want so badly from others when I’ve messed up and hurt those I love. And yet, forgiveness is something I have such a hard time giving when I’ve been hurt.

Oftentimes, I’ll think I have forgiven an offense, but something will trigger an emotion or remind me of a past hurt and the unforgiving comes roaring out like a lion. It can be scary. The power of unforgiving is consuming. It becomes a prison.

Jesus commands us to forgive because He has forgiven us of our sins. This forgiveness isn’t to let the offender off the hook, but to let us out of the prison of unforgiveness and shame. Christ came to bring freedom. To bring life. Life abundantly. Forgiveness finds freedom!

#forgiveness #freedom #christ