Unlocking ForgivenessSample

Power Over Your Oppressors

Imagine coming face-to-face with the people who hurt you the most. Years have passed. The wounds are deep. But now, the roles have reversed, and you have power. What do you do? How do you respond?

That’s exactly what happened to Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, Joseph had every reason to be bitter. But God never left him. In time, Joseph was raised to lead in Egypt, and during a great famine, his brothers came to him for help, without realizing who he was.

Joseph held their lives in his hands. Justice would’ve been easy. No one would’ve blamed him for turning them away. But instead of vengeance, Joseph offered grace. He broke down in tears and said, “It was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8). He chose forgiveness over revenge because he saw the bigger story: God had been working all along.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting the pain. It means letting go of its control over your life. It’s trusting that God can redeem what others intended for harm. It’s choosing freedom over bitterness.

You may be carrying hurt that’s still raw. And maybe forgiveness feels impossible. But you don’t have to do it alone. God can give you the strength to forgive, even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard. Forgiveness isn’t about them; it’s about your heart being free.

Take a moment to reflect:

Is there someone who hurt you that God is asking you to forgive?

What would it look like to release that pain and trust Him with your story?

Prayer

Lord, You see the wounds I carry. You know the moments I’ve been wronged. Help me not to cling to bitterness, but to trust You with the outcome. Teach me to forgive like Joseph, believing that You can use even the hardest moments for good. Set my heart free today.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen.