no longer withholding forgiveness

Recently, I looked back at my walk with Jesus and noticed something: so many moments in my past centered around forgiveness. Like the woman in Luke 7, I could honestly say:

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven…”

I had this deep awareness that God had never once held my wrongs against me. Even when I did insane, reckless things…He never withheld His love. He never pulled back. He remained constant. He forgave me.

And that forgiveness didn’t just free me from shame. It began healing places in my soul I didn’t even know were broken.

There were things I had done to others out of ignorance, pain, and immaturity—because hurt people hurt people. I was reckless at times but when I received God’s full forgiveness, I started extending it freely…

Well—almost freely.

There was one person I struggled to forgive. It was tied to pain I experienced when I was much younger—pain I hadn’t fully faced, and a wound I had kept hidden for years and when God gently brought this person to mind, I wrestled with fully forgiving. I wept and cried out, “God, I can’t do it. Help me.”

And in one moment, God showed me such a vivid vision of this person. It was not a justification for what happened, but a glimpse into the brokenness that caused it. I saw the deep fracture in this person’s soul, and for the first time—I felt compassion.

And compassion opened the door to release.

I wasn’t saying what happened was okay. I was saying, “You no longer get to hold space in my soul.” I forgave. And I felt free.

Forgiveness is not denial. It’s not saying, “What happened doesn’t matter.”
It’s saying, “What happened will no longer control me.”

Forgiveness is freedom. For you.

And here’s the truth: when we don’t forgive, the person who hurt us, they still have a pull on our soul. Unforgiveness is spiritual bondage—and it’s subtle.

It shows up as bitterness, distrust, inner tension, or even physical weariness. But God is calling you higher. Forgiveness isn’t optional. It's a command—because God cares deeply about your soul.

“How many times shall I forgive? … Seventy times seven.” — Matthew 18:21-22

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, help me release the weight I’ve carried. I can’t do it in my own strength. Fill me with your love. Help me let go of the pain others caused and break the chains of unforgiveness holding me back. You forgave me completely—help me do the same for others. In Jesus name.

much love,

jordyn