Day 13
God is Forgiving
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins
Colossians 1:13-14
As one year closes and another begins, our hearts naturally slow down and we look both back and ahead. It’s often a time when we pause long enough to ask, Lord, how will my life point others to You this year? Whether the past twelve months have brought you joy, quiet waiting, heartbreak, hardship, or all the above, this truth remains unshaken: God has been with you in every step, holding what you celebrated and carrying what you couldn’t. God is unwavering. In addition, God teaches us how to forgive, as He has forgiven us.
Micah reminds us that God doesn’t forgive out of duty; He forgives out of delight. His mercy is not reluctant or measured. He doesn’t revisit the list of where we’ve failed or fallen short. Instead, He casts our sins “into the depths of the sea.” No dredging up. No keeping score. His forgiveness is complete.
Paul echoes this in Colossians. Through Jesus, God has rescued us from the darkness of our past and brought us into His light. Because of Christ, we can begin again, not because a calendar page flips, but because His grace still holds us fast. The slate is clean. The burden has been lifted. We are seen, known, and loved by a God who forgives without hesitation.
But forgiveness is also a choice. We can choose to receive God’s forgiveness or continue carrying guilt. We can choose to forgive others or hold on to the pain. What we choose doesn’t change who God is, but it does shape how clearly His love shines through us. Both receiving and giving forgiveness are where His grace becomes visible to others. We may not see the impact forgiveness has or understand how God is revealing Himself through our obedience, but we can trust He is always at work.
Ask the Lord to reveal what needs forgiving: the obvious hurts, the quiet disappointments tucked away, the words that stung, or the moments that weighed you down more than you admitted. Those hidden places can harden slowly and silently. When we surrender even those to Him, His grace fills the empty places and begins to change us and the world around us. Forgiveness doesn’t deny the pain. It hands the hurt to the Potter, the one who alone can heal, restore, and mend brokenness into something new, transforming us to his likeness.
Injustice, disappointment, and hurt will continue, but when we become less, He becomes greater. As His Spirit softens our hearts, our actions begin to mirror His patience, compassion, and a willingness to forgive. Over time, forgiveness becomes less of a task and more of a way of living, reflecting the heart of God who forgives without measure.
FURTHER REFLECTION:
How might choosing forgiveness, toward yourself or someone else, help you reflect God’s character?
What does it mean to you that God delights to show us mercy?
Ask God to show you the hidden things in your heart that need forgiving and glorify Him as He transforms the space they leave behind.
PRAYER:
Father, thank You that You are forgiving. You see every wrong, and You respond with mercy. Each day, help me rest in the truth that You never change. Your forgiveness is steady, and Your love is perfect. Teach me to accept Your grace fully and to extend it freely to others. Show me the places I’ve held onto hurt or disappointment and help me release them to You. Let Your peace, joy, and love grow where unforgiveness once lived, so that the world may see You and be transformed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY: Micah 7:18-19, Psalm 103:8-12, Ephesians 4:32, James 1:17
by: Miranda Boswell