04/06/2026
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21–22
Lord, You expect me to forgive them?
The ones who hurt me, the ones who broke me, the ones who betrayed me, talked about me, and meant me harm?
You expect me to forgive them 490 times?
And the Lord answers,
“No child, I expect My disciples to stop keeping count of the number of times someone has hurt you.”
The problem is not the number, it is the heart.
Because the moment you start counting, you have already decided there is a limit to your grace.
But God never dealt with you that way.
He did not forgive you three times, or seven times, or 490 times.
He forgave you every time you came to Him.
Knowingly, willingly, repeatedly.
And still does.
Yet we draw lines where God never did.
We hold on to offenses He calls us to release.
We rehearse wounds He tells us to surrender.
Listen carefully, forgiveness is not saying what they did was acceptable.
It is saying you trust God more than your hurt.
You cannot walk in grace while keeping a record of wrongs.
You cannot reflect Christ while refusing to forgive.
At some point, you have to decide,
Do I want justice for them, or mercy like I was given?
Because you cannot demand grace from God while denying it to others.
Stop counting.
Start forgiving.
