A Path to Forgiveness: Bible Verses to Help You Forgive

The Bible is extremely helpful when it comes to providing guidance on the many issues of life. Forgiveness is found throughout the Bible, and it is a fundamental of the Christian faith. Forgiveness is the foundation that leads man to God’s restoration.

You may be familiar with the age-old account known as the Fall of Man. It goes back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3). The serpent tempted Eve, and she rebelled against the will of God. She also persuaded her husband, Adam, to do the same.

Their guilt and disobedience fractured their relationship with God and created a separation from Him. Consequently, all human beings have inherited a sinful nature, and because of sin, humans require a means to be reconciled with God. Therefore, God graciously gave His only Son to atone for the sins of mankind (John 3:16). Without this lifeline, there would be no forgiveness of sins and no hope for the future.

Fortunately, God’s love and mercy for humanity were great. His forgiveness continues to provide a “get out of jail free” card for all sinners. This is why Christians hold forgiveness in such high regard. It is understood that forgiveness grants access to God’s righteousness in this life and the next. God forgives freely, but He does set an expectation. God makes it clear that everyone must forgive as He forgives.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:14-15, NIV

If the requirement of forgiving others is not met, then God will withhold His forgiveness. Where there is a lack of forgiveness, there is also a lack of God’s righteous goodness. The absence of His goodness will only lead to a desolate life.

With that being said, the harsh reality is that it isn’t always easy to forgive. Some betrayals leave you bitter. There are times when even the people you love the most will hurt you callously. Hurt has the potential to change you. It can breed anger within you, and before you know it, your heart turns to stone. This makes forgiveness almost impossible.

Your heart is influential when it comes to your decision-making. Your heart and your emotions are the same. The heart, although fragile, is a powerhouse when it comes to amplifying feelings. It collects every record of wrongs and remembers every heartbreak. This is why God advises you to take notice of what your heart is storing in its chambers.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23, NIV

The heart’s powers of persuasion will touch every aspect of your life. Your feelings determine the course of your actions, so it is vital to keep a close eye on where your emotions are leading you.

One thing is for certain: some feelings will lead you into a downward spiral. The Bible calls some emotions out by name:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:31-32, NIV

Perhaps you have noticed how relentless some of these negative emotions are. Emotions such as anger can interfere with your capacity to forgive and feel joy. They even alter perceptions and steal every ounce of your peace of mind.

It is hard to live a fulfilling life when you are full of rage. This is why God commands that instead of giving in to anger, we are to cultivate compassion for others. While anger pushes you away from peace and joy, compassion will move you toward them.

Now, it takes some practice to develop a heart of compassion. A good starting point is to let compassion serve as a reminder of the human condition. Remember that everyone faces their own sorrows and their own heartaches. No one is exempt from being hurt. Just like your heart bears its scars, so does the heart of everyone else.

Try to empathize with your offender, who is merely an imperfect human being like the rest of humanity. Let compassion remind you that no one handles life perfectly. All humans are susceptible to errors, and all fall from grace (Romans 3:23).

It may humble you to consider the times when you were the one at fault. Recognizing your own shortcomings will increase your ability to forgive, thus stopping anger from taking root. Compassion protects your heart from hardening.

Something else worth mentioning is that there is a common issue relating to forgiveness. One of the hardest things to contend with when it comes to forgiving is giving it to someone who doesn’t deserve it. You might be down and doing your best to pick up the pieces, while the offender may be numb and oblivious to your heartache.

Someone who has no remorse for their actions, or who gives no consideration to your feelings, doesn’t deserve to be forgiven. Right? Forgiving them might send the message that you condone what they did to you. It can feel infuriating to have to let them off the hook. What good could come from forgiving them? This is a valid question, and the Bible offers some insight.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9, NIV

God is the ultimate moral authority, and He sees every intricate detail of your life. The offender might be blind to your pain, but God is not. He sees the tears you cry, and He sees your hurt. God knows how hard the struggle may be to pardon the undeserving. However, He promises that He will bless you abundantly when you choose to do what is right despite your reservations.

It is also significant to note that God, as the purveyor of justice, will give everyone their due reward. The Bible assures that all will reap what they have sown (Galatians 6:7). In other words, what goes around comes around. There are consequences to every action. Just as God assures that He will repay goodness with goodness, God will also take care of injustices.

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, NIV

This is quite a scripture. This might give comfort to some who are gripping tightly to harsh grievances. Some mistreatments are not only hurtful, but they can be downright evil and cruel.

Vengeance sometimes seems justified. Still, God is the avenger. You don’t need to take matters into your own hands. It is not your duty to do so. God is better equipped to make the wrongs right, so you can trust Him to take care of offenders. Surely they will also reap what they have sown.

Hopefully, the Scriptures up to this point have given you something to consider. Forgiveness is definitely a matter of the heart. If you are holding onto grievances, perhaps it’s time to take inventory of what your heart is storing up. How is unforgiveness affecting your life? Is anger in charge? Has bitterness set in, or is there still room to cultivate compassion?

Take a moment to reflect and contemplate which emotions are weighing you down. The shackles of scorn are quite burdensome. There is freedom in casting your cares upon God for He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7). He cares enough to restore what has been broken, but you must be willing to surrender to His direction. He cannot heal a heart that is not aligned with His.

Don’t let your anger and resentment keep you from living a life of goodness. It may feel like you are powerless over your emotions, but you are not. You get to decide if you will stay captive to a bitter heart or break free from its bondage. The choice is yours, so make sure you choose wisely.