Would I be Willing to Forgive if They Don't Ask for Forgiveness?

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. “

Matthew 6:14-15 KJV

This is a difficult concept because for forgiveness to take full effect you have one who is receiving forgiveness. However, sometimes in life it isn’t possible, and what we choose to do has to come down to our identity. Who are you? Do you belong to Christ? What does the Word say about this? If you know we are of our father, then we are commanded to mirror his actions. Forgiveness and restoration are NOT the same thing. You can offer forgiveness, which truly frees you from bitterness and control, and be obedient to the Word, without restoring relationship.

You can forgive without the person who has offended you knowing it because forgiveness is an issue of your heart. We forgive because Christ forgave us and we do not want anything to hinder or fellowship with Him. We need to understand that it grieves God’s heart when we withhold forgiveness and there is disobedience hurting our relationship with him. Forgiving another has nothing to do with their remorse and everything to do with your responsibility as a child of God.

When we forgive we release an individual into God’s judgment, we allow him to do the weighing and we step back. We step back knowing we have been and will continually need forgiveness ourselves. We step back and embrace that nothing will separate us through disobedience with our Father who we love. We fully embrace our mandate as children of the Most High God to do as He does, being obedient in action not just in word. Forgiveness is difficult when repentance isn’t present but anything the Lord requires us to do, He provides the means to do it. If you are struggling with forgiving someone, bring it to the Lord, ask Him to help you and release them in the same manner that Christ released you.

Pastor Natalie Snider