Forgiveness: The Doorway to Freedom

Forgiveness is not a suggestion. It’s a command. It’s not optional if you call yourself a follower of Christ. It’s a requirement.

I used to think forgiveness was something you gave to someone once they deserved it. But God showed me that if I waited for that moment, I would die bitter. Forgiveness is not about the other person—it’s about obedience to God and the condition of my heart.

I had to face this truth the hard way. Growing up, my father wasn’t present. That absence shaped a lot of brokenness in me. Anger, distrust, resentment—they built a home inside my heart, and I let them stay for years. I also carried guilt over my own mistakes—the choices I made while trying to fill the empty places in my heart. But God didn’t let me stay stuck. He came for me. And when He did, forgiveness was the key He used to unlock my healing.

What the Bible Says About Forgiveness

The Word of God is clear:

“But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

— Matthew 6:15 (NLT)

This isn’t a maybe. This isn’t a gray area. If we refuse to forgive, we are putting ourselves outside of God’s forgiveness. That’s not just about having a rough season—it’s about eternity.

Hebrews 12:14-15 also warns:

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

— Hebrews 12:14-15 (NLT)

Bitterness isn’t harmless. It corrupts. It poisons your walk with God and can keep you from seeing Him altogether.

How God Healed My Heart

I had to be real with God. I couldn’t fake forgiveness. I started by confessing the hate I had buried deep—the anger toward my father for not being there, and the self-hate for the mess I made trying to cope without him. I didn’t pretty it up for God. I laid it out raw.

And little by little, as I prayed and surrendered, God did what only He can do: He healed the places I didn’t know could heal. He gave me compassion for the man I had hated. He showed me that hurt people hurt people. My father’s absence wasn’t about me; it was about his brokenness.

God also showed me that my mistakes didn’t define me. His forgiveness did. And if He could forgive me, who was I to withhold forgiveness from anyone else?

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

— Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

Forgiveness isn’t excusing someone’s sin. It’s choosing to obey God despite it. It’s releasing them into God’s hands and stepping into freedom yourself.

Search Your Heart

Today, I want to ask you: is there unforgiveness hiding in your heart?

It might not be obvious anger. It might show up as distance, coldness, passive-aggressive comments, or a low-key resentment you carry like armor. But God sees it. And He cares enough to call you out to deal with it.

Take time today to search your heart honestly. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anyone you haven’t forgiven. Maybe it’s a parent, a friend, a spouse, a pastor, or even yourself.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

— Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

Forgiveness is not just for the ones who wronged you. It’s for you. It’s for your freedom. It’s for your eternity.

Jesus paid too high a price for us to live in chains.

Eternity Is on the Line

I can’t sugarcoat it. According to Scripture, if we live in unforgiveness, we forfeit the very mercy we hope to receive. That’s not my opinion—that’s the Word.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

— Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

We can’t afford to carry unforgiveness into eternity.

Don’t let the enemy trick you into thinking you have time to deal with it later. None of us knows when we will stand before God.

Today is the day to forgive. Today is the day to be free.

Next Step:

Take a moment after reading this. Pray. Journal. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Who do you need to forgive? Don’t wait. Obey God. Step into freedom.

From A Daughters Broken Heart,

Shae’💔