Boundless Daily: Forgiveness

Do you ever feel like you’re carrying a backpack full of heavy stones? Every time someone says something hurtful, you add a stone. Every time you think about a past mistake, you add another. After a while, that backpack gets so heavy it’s hard to even stand up straight, let alone move forward.

At Boundless Online Church, we meet people every day who are exhausted from carrying that weight. Whether you’re a caregiver working the late shift, someone struggling with a physical disability, or a seeker looking for a spark of hope in a dark world, we want you to know something today:

You don't have to carry those stones anymore.

Forgiveness isn't just a nice idea or a suggestion for "super-Christians." It is the key to breaking the chains of the past and finally walking into the freedom God has for you.

The Math of Mercy

There’s a famous story in the Bible where Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, asks a very practical question. He asks, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"

In that culture, forgiving someone three times was considered plenty. Peter thought he was being incredibly generous by suggesting seven. He was looking for a limit. He wanted to know when he could finally say, "That’s it. I’m done with you."

Jesus’ answer changed everything. He said, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (or seventy times seven, depending on the translation).

Jesus wasn't giving Peter a new number to reach (490). He was telling Peter to throw away the calculator. Forgiveness isn't a transaction; it’s a way of life. It’s a decision to release the debt someone owes you because you realize how much your own debt has been cleared.

Why We Get Stuck in Bitterness

It’s easy to talk about forgiveness, but it’s incredibly hard to do when the hurt is deep. Bitterness is often a protective shell we build around our hearts. We think that if we stay angry, we’re somehow punishing the person who hurt us.

But as the old saying goes, bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.

It eats away at your peace. It keeps you awake at 3:00 AM. It colors how you see your spouse, your children, and even how you see God. When we hold onto regret or bitterness, we are essentially letting our past dictate our future. We are choosing to stay chained to a version of ourselves: or a version of someone else: that doesn't exist anymore.

If you’re struggling with where to start, you’re not alone. Many people ask, where do I start if I need someone to pray for me?. The first step is often just admitting that the weight is too heavy to carry on your own.

The Foundation: God’s Forgiveness Toward Us

At Boundless Online Church, we hold firmly to the Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths. One of the most beautiful of these truths is the "Salvation of Man." We believe that man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Before we can truly forgive others, we have to understand that we have been forgiven.

None of us are perfect. We’ve all made choices we regret. We’ve all "missed the mark." But God, in His boundless love, didn't leave us in that state. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins. When we repent: which just means turning away from our old way of living and turning toward God: and believe in Jesus, our slate is wiped clean.

This is the Gospel. It’s the "Good News." It means your past doesn't define you. Your mistakes don't define you. What Jesus did on the Cross defines you.

When you realize that the Creator of the universe has forgiven you for everything, it becomes possible to look at the person who hurt you and say, "I release you." Not because what they did was okay, but because you refuse to let it control you any longer.

The Power to Let Go

You might be thinking, "Penny, you don't know what they did to me. I can’t just let it go."

You’re right. In our own human strength, we often can't. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in.

We believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience that empowers believers for life and service. Part of that "empowerment" is the ability to do things that are humanly impossible: like forgiving the "unforgivable."

The Holy Spirit works in us to produce fruit like love, peace, and patience. He gives us a new heart. If you've ever wondered about the role of the Spirit in a believer's life, you might find our post on what is the initial evidence of the baptism in the holy spirit helpful in understanding how God equips us for this journey.

Forgiveness is often a process. It’s a decision you make one morning, and then you might have to make it again ten minutes later when the memory resurfaces. But with the Holy Spirit’s help, the intervals between those decisions get longer. The sting gets weaker. The chains get thinner until they finally snap.

Breaking the Chains of Regret

Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive isn't someone else: it’s yourself.

Regret is a heavy chain. It whispers that you’ve wasted too much time, that you’ve messed up too badly, or that God could never use someone like you.

That is a lie.

If you look at the heroes of the Bible, they were a collection of people who needed a lot of forgiveness. Moses had a temper. David made massive moral failures. Peter denied Jesus. Yet, God used every one of them to change the world.

Your "brokenness" is not a barrier to God; it’s an invitation for His grace. We’ve seen this happen time and time again. If you need some encouragement, check out these 20 raw testimonies to get you started on your faith journey. You’ll see that you aren't the only one who has felt disqualified.

A Simple Path Forward

So, how do we actually do this? How do we break the chains today?

1. Acknowledge the Hurt: Don't pretend it didn't happen. God knows the truth. Tell Him exactly how you feel. He can handle your anger and your tears.

2. Receive God’s Forgiveness: If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior, start there. Admit you need Him, believe He died for you and rose again, and commit to following Him. That’s the most important "reset" button you’ll ever press.

3. Make the Decision: Forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling. You can decide to forgive even while you’re still feeling the pain.

4. Pray for the Person: This is the hardest part. But it’s hard to stay bitter toward someone you are sincerely asking God to bless.

5. Seek Support: You don't have to do this alone. Whether you're navigating these questions from a hospital bed, a breakroom, or your living room, there is a community here for you.

We are a global church. We know that many of our readers are in places where attending a physical building isn't possible. You might wonder, can I grow in my faith if I can only attend online?. The answer is a resounding yes. Growth happens in the heart, and the Holy Spirit isn't limited by geography.

Meet Jesus Today

If you’re reading this and you feel that tug on your heart: that sense that maybe, just maybe, you could be free from your past: that’s God talking to you. He loves you with a love that is truly boundless.

Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save it. He came to give you a life of purpose, peace, and hope. No matter where you are or what you’ve done, His arms are open wide. You can meet Him right where you are, right now. Just talk to Him. He’s listening.

Forgiveness isn't about letting someone off the hook; it's about taking yourself off the hook so you can finally live the life you were created for.

Let today be the day the chains break.

Need prayer? Text 1-901-213-7341 (message & data rates may apply). Not for emergencies.

Boundless Online Church is a ministry of FA Memphis.