One of the hardest things the Bible teaches us is to forgive. Sometimes we think we have forgiven when in fact we have not. We still hold onto the hurt, the pain, or just hang onto the event to try and remember so that it never happens again. We say things like we forgive and then bury pain and hatred deep in our hearts for these people that have caused us harm. Could you imagine if God did that to us? If he told us I forgive you but deep down, he really did not.

But what does it mean to forgive? There are tons of verses in the Bible that speak on forgiveness, but I choose to focus on a few verses from Matthew and Psalms to answer this one question.

Matthew 6:12– And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:14– For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
These verses are telling us that we are to forgive the way our Father would forgive. But how does our father forgive?
Psalm 103:12 -As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
When we go to God for forgiveness, he tosses our sins as far from the east is to the west from himself. They are no longer remembered, and we are no longer held accused of them.

In life forgiving people can be difficult. Maybe the person keeps doing the same thing over and over. Or maybe they did something awful one time and you feel as though you can never trust them again. Regardless of the situation we are commanded to forgive the way God would forgive us. This takes time and practice. Maybe today you forgave someone but tomorrow its back and causing you distress. Does this mean you didn’t forgive them? No, it means you have to do it again. We are not perfect like our Father in heaven and all things we must practice and also must ask for forgiveness countless times for ourselves. How many times did you mess up and had to go to God, yet again?

The story of Peter asking how many times one should forgive someone is the perfect example of this concept.
Matthew 18:21-22– “Then came Peter to Him, and said Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.”
This shows that we are to practice forgiveness. We are to forgive those that trespass against us as many times as necessary until it no longer holds power over your life. We are to forgive till we truly no longer remember the infraction that was done.

But if we forget does that not mean we would then be doomed to fall into the same situation again? The world teaches us that we have to hold onto things, remember them to protect ourselves. But if we are protecting ourselves then are we truly relying on God and are we forgiving the way God would want us to forgive? Have we not hurt God? Have we not done the same things countless times and still found ourselves asking God to forgive us? If he does not hold on to your sin to protect himself, why should we? God is our protector. If we are to live a Jesus filled life, we are to practice being more like Jesus every day, pray for guidance and protection. Forgive and rely on God and invite thankfulness for each trial into your life.