What the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go [2025]

It’s not always easy to forgive. It can be hard to forget about how someone hurt us. But we all need to forgive, not just to fix things with other people but also to feel at peace with ourselves. Finding out “What the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” can help us understand how to let go of things that are holding us back and enjoy the freedom that comes with forgiving others.

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What does God say about forgiveness and letting go?

In fact, Matt 6:14, 18:35, Mark 11:25–26, Luke 6:37 say that in order for God to forgive you, you must first forgive others. (Matthew 18:21–22; Luke 17:3–4) Jesus says that people should forgive each other as many times as the other person asks for forgiveness and changes their mind.

1. Forgiveness Starts with God

It’s in the Bible from the very beginning that we learn to forgive. It is clear from the beginning of the Bible that God is merciful and willing to forgive His people. This is what “What the Bible Says About Forgiveness and Letting Go” means. In Psalm 103:12, it says that God takes away our sins “as far as the east is from the west.” That’s how far He’s ready to go to start over.

To accept is the most important thing in the New Testament. Jesus not only tells us to forgive, He does it too. Christ prayed for those who had hurt Him while He was on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). We have hope that we can forgive if Jesus can do it even though He is in so much pain. This strong example shows “what the Bible says about Letting Go and Forgiving“.

2. Forgiveness in the Church: Loving Each Other Through the Mess

Everyone isn’t perfect, even the people we go to church with. Things will go wrong, people will disagree, and feelings will get hurt. Forgiveness is important in the body of Christ, but “what the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” also includes other people.

Paul tells us in Colossians 3:13 to “bear with each other and forgive each other if anyone has a grudge against someone.” To forgive, do what the Lord did for you. This is also said in Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to each other, and forgive each other, just as God forgave you in Christ.”

It’s not okay to act like nothing happened when you forgive someone from your church family. It means putting love over anger and getting through the hard times together. “What the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” tells us how to show God’s kindness, and it makes our community stronger.

3. Forgiving Doesn’t Mean Ignoring Wrongdoing

To be clear, forgiving someone doesn’t mean you agree with their bad behavior or don’t care about the harm they did. You can be responsible and forgive someone at the same time, as “What the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” shows.

Galatians 6:1 tells Christians to gently lead someone back to God when they’ve done something wrong. Not to shame or blame them, but to help them grow and find their way back to God. In Matthew 18:15–17, Jesus also gave us a realistic way to deal with conflict. He lays out steps to deal with wrongdoing in a loving and constructive way.

You let go of the anger and bitterness that weighs you down when you forgive. There is still care for what’s right, though, as “what the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” tells us. Having honest conversations and setting good limits are sometimes part of it.

4. Forgiving Those Outside the Church: Loving the Unlovable

What about people who don’t believe the same things you do or who seem hard to love? “What the Bible Says About Letting Go and Forgiving” makes us want to forgive them too.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” says Romans 12:17–21. Live in peace with everyone if you can, as long as it’s up to you. We are told to beat evil with good instead of staying angry or looking for payback.

In real life, this could mean that your friend is always making you mad or that someone at work has been saying bad things about you. We might want to get back at the person who hurt us, but “what the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” tells us that forgiveness changes things. It could mean being kind to someone even if you don’t think they deserve it.

5. The Power of Forgiveness to Heal

Forgiving someone changes you as well as them. People who read “What the Bible Says About Forgiveness and Letting Go” learn that holding on to anger and resentment can make us feel heavy and stop us from fully feeling God’s peace.

Studies have shown that forgiving others makes you feel better and less stressed. Christ taught us that forgiving others is connected to our connection with God, which is more important. As He prayed, Mark 11:25 says, “If you have anything against someone, forgive them so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins.”

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Getting over your anger won’t make the pain go away, but as “what the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” says, it does let you focus on what’s important: your relationship with God and the people He’s put in your life.

6. Forgiveness is Hard, But It’s Worth It

Okay, let’s be honest: forgiving someone can be really hard at times. There may be a lot of pain, or the person may not have even apologized. “What the Bible Says About Letting Go and Forgiving” helps us remember that forgiving someone doesn’t mean you agree with what they did. It means giving up the right to hold it against them and letting God handle the rest.

Don’t give up when it seems impossible to forgive. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Do what you can, trust God, and take one step at a time. Giving up something can be hard, but “what the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go” shows that it’s possible with God’s help.

7. How to Start Forgiving and Letting Go

Forgiveness is a process. Here are some practical steps to help you start:

Be Open About the Pain: Admit that you’re in pain and how it’s making you feel.
Pray for Strength: Even if you don’t feel ready to forgive, ask God to help you.
Do something: Choose to let go of your anger, even if you don’t feel better right away.
Once more if needed: It’s not always possible to forgive someone just once. Give it to God again and again. [What the Bible says about Forgiveness and Letting Go]

8. Forgiveness Reflects God’s Love

Forgiveness isn’t just something we do for other people; it shows how much God has graced us. He forgiven us even though we didn’t earn it, and He wants us to do the same for other people.

We’re here to walk this journey with you at Harmony Baptist Church in Galesburg, IL. It’s not always easy to forgive, but we can all get better at it. Come see us, tell us your story, and learn how God’s love can change even the worst parts of your life.

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It may not be easy to forgive and let go, but doing so can set you free and help you heal. You don’t have to do it by yourself. Take the first step today.

My Real-Life Experience

I remember a time when it seemed impossible to forgive someone. I felt terrible when a close friend hurt me, and I knew it was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t get over my anger. It felt like carrying a big weight that I couldn’t get off my back, no matter how hard I tried. But when I read what the Bible says about forgiving and letting go.

I felt better because I knew that forgiving didn’t mean I was okay with what happened; it meant I chose to let go of the anger that was holding me back. Slowly, step by step, I let go of the pain with God’s help. It didn’t happen right away, but each prayer helped my heart heal a little more and make me feel better. It’s not easy to forgive, but God helps us find the freedom and peace we’ve been looking for when we trust Him and take that first step.

Conclusion

To forgive someone isn’t just to let go of upset feelings; it’s also to accept the freedom and peace that God gives us. Because of what the Bible says about forgiving and letting go, we remember that forgiveness is a strong way to heal, both for the person we forgive and for ourselves. It might not be easy and it might take a while, but when we forgive, we show God’s kindness and feel the deep peace that comes from trusting Him.

You can forgive a family member, a friend, or even someone who doesn’t share your religion. Forgiving someone is a path that leads to freedom. Don’t forget that you’re not on this journey by yourself. God is with you the whole time, ready to help you let go and move on. Today, take the first step toward forgiveness and see how it changes your life.

FAQs:-

Q.1 What are the 4 stages of forgiveness?

Ans:- There are four steps to forgiveness: Hatred, Hurt, Healing, and coming together.

Q.2 What is the golden rule of forgiveness?

Ans:- Abandoning all resentment and malice.

Q.3 Why do we forgive 77 times?

Ans:- Many interpreters interpret this to suggest that Jesus was urging Peter to forgive his brother an unlimited number of times.