FORGIVENESS & RECONCILIATION

Forgiveness is such a complicated grace.

I keep seeing the word "reconcile" everywhere I look. Even Early was a witness when I opened a random book in Barnes & Nobles last Sunday to yet another passage talking about reconciliation and forgiveness.

Reconciliation happens when two parties at odds with one another are brought back together. One party reaches out to the other and will seek to establish peace in the conflict.

But sometimes forgiveness is a quiet surrender in your own heart. It’s laying the weight of bitterness, betrayal, or heartbreak at the feet of Jesus—without a guarantee of resolution on the other side. Forgiveness through God doesn’t always mean reconciliation with people. It means releasing others to God and choosing not to carry the offense anymore.

Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting what happened or what was said to you. It’s not minimizing the pain. It’s not even about trusting the person again. It’s about choosing freedom over bondage, peace over resentment, and God’s way over our own.

Forgiveness is a GIFT — because holding onto hurt only poisons your soul. But letting go? That’s where healing begins. And I am so thankful that God has been showing me the signs that I need to just let go.

Colossians 3:13 also says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” That’s a high standard, isn’t it?