How Do I Forgive Someone Who Hurt Me?

Forgiveness is one of the most challenging yet most liberating commands in Scripture. Jesus made it clear that forgiveness is not optional for His followers. In Matthew 6:14-15, He taught that our willingness to forgive others is connected to our experience of God's forgiveness toward us.

Biblical forgiveness does not mean pretending the wrong never happened or that it did not hurt. It means choosing to release the debt — deciding not to hold the offense against the person or seek revenge. In Ephesians 4:32, Paul instructs believers to be kind and forgiving to one another, just as God in Christ forgave them. Our model for forgiveness is how God has treated us.

Forgiveness is often a process rather than a single moment. It may begin as an act of the will before the emotions follow. Praying for the person who hurt you, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:44, can soften your heart over time. Remember that forgiveness frees you as much as it frees the other person. Holding onto bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer.