Most of us have experienced debt at one time or another. A car, tuition, or home loan, a medical bill, or even a debt of gratitude. Many debts are eventually paid off. Some are forgiven. And others hang heavily on our hearts and minds, whether it’s a debt we owe or one owed us.

A loved one recently passed away in our family leaving a wake of heartache in the lives of many. Whether it was on purpose or a symptom of her mental health issues, only the Lord knows. It is now up to the recipients of hurtful words and actions to decide how they will deal with them. No earthly apology will be heard.

Scripture guides us to not keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). For our own mental and spiritual health, which affects our physical well-being, it is always best to forgive. Webster defines forgiveness as “giving up resentment against or the desire to punish, to overlook (an offense), to cancel (a debt).”

Forgiveness does not mean the guilty are innocent or justified or that what they did was right. Forgiveness is a choice to let go of the offense and give it to the Lord, to not feel the need to hold the offender accountable. That’s up to the Lord. (It is not our assignment. What a relief!)

Sometimes forgiveness is a journey. It may take repeated attempts to forgive, a daily decision to allow painful memories to fade and replace them with better ones, trusting that the Lord knows all. Remember that line in the Lord’s prayer. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

Thank God, He made a way for our debt of sin to be forgiven through Jesus. May we grant forgiveness to others.