Forgiving: it is one of the hardest things we are asked to do as human beings.

As children we are taught that if someone wrongs us, a simple “sorry” from them will fix that wrong.

I can name many occasions throughout my life when I have apologised to someone. I have then gone on to do the same thing repeatedly, without a second thought. So, my apology was really just an empty word. “Sorry” only means something if the person saying it truly feels that their action towards you was wrong. After saying sorry, the person should change their behaviour.

But what happens when someone continues to wrong us and give us empty apologies?

In my own experience, it creates distrust. It also leads to an inability to forgive. You never know if they are genuinely sorry or not. I have struggled with forgiveness for my entire life because I have no idea what it looks like. From a child, I have just learnt that empty sorry’s are the way to go.

Learning True Forgiveness

I was mindlessly flicking through the reels on Facebook today and I came across a video based on forgiveness. I started reading through the comments and I came across this beautiful woman and her story. She had lost her mother and brother and was having difficulty with another sibling and his wife. Her and her husband were struggling in life and are about the lose their business. But what she was asking was, “How do I forgive my brother and his wife for what they have done?” The Holy Spirit spoke to me as I was reading this. It said, “Tell her, ‘Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do’” (Luke 23:34).

I sat and prayed for this woman, just a random stranger online. I, then, hit ‘reply’ and wrote to her the most Jesus filled message I have ever written. Ever. As I was writing this message, I felt like I was speaking to my own soul.

“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do”

Why does this hit so different now I get it?

The truth is that those who wrong us are not in control of themselves. They are overcome by demons, and they may not even know it. Their behaviour towards us is not a reflection of us. We should forgive them and move on for our own sake. Sitting in unforgiveness does not bring us closer to God. In fact, it does the complete opposite.

Even after Jesus was beaten, whipped, had pieces of his hair and beard pulled out, was forced to carry his cross in entirety through the streets, and nailed to the cross, he still pleaded with God to forgive us of our sins. He may have been the Son of God, but in that moment, he was also the Son of Man. The Holy Spirit had left him for three hours before he died, carrying the sins of all mankind.

Imagine having that much love for someone, just one single person – that’s how God feels about all of us.

We are all worthy of His love, but we must repent and change our ways.

Satan has too much control in this world because we let him. We let him overtake us because he offers us a “fun” life. It’s also a life full of hatred, division, lust, and greed. We all lack love in Satan’s world.

In God’s world we know true love, true peace, true joy, true mercy, and true grace.

It is hard to give up Satan’s world, especially when all our friends, family, community, and so forth, are all living in that world.

Everything that Satan gives you will fade, and you will be left with the aftermath of shame, guilt, anger, and misery.

I have been there, but thankfully Jesus found me. I am now on a new path. One where I am able to forgive those who have wronged me. Instead of plotting revenge and wishing for their demise, I now pray for them and hope they will turn to God, repent, and change their ways.

You will never know a greater love than the love of our Creator. Each and every person deserves that love. Seek His forgiveness. It’s not too late.