The Importance of Asking for Forgiveness
We all know that God calls us to forgive others. It’s something we hear often, something we strive to live out, but what about when the tables are turned? What about when we’ve caused hurt to someone else, whether intentionally or unintentionally? Just as we ask God to forgive us, we must also ask others for forgiveness for the hurt we’ve caused them. It’s something we all need to consider because, at some point, we’ve all hurt someone, whether it’s something we said, something we did, or even a betrayal. And sometimes, in the moment, we don’t realize the pain we’re causing.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve made many mistakes in my past, with friends, coworkers, my children, my husband, my family—really, the list could go on. I didn’t always act with kindness or understanding, and I certainly didn’t always show grace. When I came to Christ, and He started working on my heart, my eyes were opened to all the wrong I had done to people. I never realized the weight of my words or my actions until I truly began to see the impact they had. Asking for forgiveness, especially from those I had hurt, wasn’t easy. In fact, it felt almost impossible at times, especially because some of the people I needed to ask for forgiveness from were also the ones who had hurt me.
But God calls us to get rid of our pride, to humble ourselves, and to ask for forgiveness from those we’ve wronged. It’s not easy. We want to hold onto our pride, to protect ourselves, to avoid the uncomfortable conversations. But I’ll tell you, when I finally humbled myself and asked for forgiveness from others, especially from those who had hurt me too, it brought me peace. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t always go the way I hoped, but it was freeing. I realized that by asking for forgiveness, I wasn’t just mending relationships with others, I was also mending my relationship with God.
Matthew 5:23-24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” This passage is such a reminder to me that God values reconciliation, that He wants us to go and make things right with those we’ve wronged. God doesn’t just want us to be forgiven; He wants us to live out forgiveness in our relationships with others.
It takes humility to admit when we’ve wronged someone, but it’s part of our growth in Christ. We can’t move forward in our healing until we first recognize the pain we’ve caused and seek forgiveness from those we’ve hurt. It’s an act of love, not just for the other person, but for ourselves as well. It clears our hearts, and it opens the door for peace.
Asking for forgiveness might not always be easy, but it’s necessary. It’s an important step in healing broken relationships and, more importantly, in aligning ourselves with God’s will. He calls us to love one another, to forgive one another, and to reconcile with one another. And sometimes that means humbling ourselves and admitting the pain we’ve caused, even if we don’t get the response we hope for.
But when we step out in faith, trusting God’s command and letting go of our pride, we can experience the peace that only He can give.
Lord, I come to You today with a heart that longs for healing. I know that I have hurt others, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and I ask for Your forgiveness. Please give me the strength to humble myself and seek forgiveness from those I have wronged. Help me to heal relationships that have been broken and to forgive those who have hurt me. Thank You for Your grace and mercy in my life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
