Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2026

The Benefits of Forgiveness!

Transparent Tuesday

Last week I posted about having a heart posture for forgiving others. Today, I want to encourage our hearts with the benefits of forgiving others, even when we don’t want to.

As I continue to walk out my own personal journey of forgiveness, the story of Joseph (Genesis 50: 15 – 21) stands out vividly in my mind. Joseph’s brothers treated him badly, and he could have chosen to stay stuck in unforgiveness. Let’s be perfectly honest, forgiving those who don’t deserve it and those that have wronged you can be difficult.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Joseph showed God that he could be trust him to do the hard thing. To forgive and be good to those who weren’t good to us.

Forgiving when it is difficult is a conscious, often slow, decision to release resentment and pain for your own peace, rather than condoning the offender's actions. Choosing to forgive offers so many benefits mentally/emotionally - Lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, increased hope and self-esteem. Physically - lower blood pressure, improved heart health, stronger immune system, and reduced chronic pain. Reduce stress - By ending the fixation on past hurts, individuals experience lower cortisol levels and reduced "fight-or-flight" responses. But most of all, we benefit spiritually.

When we do what God is asking us to do, even when it’s hard, even when it’s not fair, and when it doesn’t make sense, there’s no limit to how high God will elevate us in every area of our lives.

What hard thing(s) do you need to trust God with, forgive, and let go of?

Practical Steps to Start Forgiving

1. Be Honest with God

Tell Him how you feel. He already knows.

2. Name the Offense

Identify it clearly. Healing starts with truth.

3. Choose to Release the Offender

Say it out loud: “I choose to forgive [name] for [offense].”

4. Pray for Them

It may feel unnatural, but Jesus commands it.

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44

5. Repeat as Needed

Forgiveness is sometimes a daily decision until the pain fades.