What’s up, Church!? Man… first off, let me say—thank you for your patience. I had to step back for a minute. Not to disappear, but to regroup. To rest. To be still. And while I was still, God was moving.
I’ve been deep in the Word lately—hard-core studying—and what He’s been revealing is nothing short of miraculous. Life-altering. Confrontational. Beautiful. Ugly. All at once. The kind of truth that doesn’t pat you on the back—it knocks the wind out of you and raises you back up different.
Sometimes, we have to weed through all the worldly BS just to find truth. The kind that isn’t trendy. The kind that doesn’t cater to feelings. The kind that pierces (Hebrews 4:12). It’s like God has been holding a mirror up to me—and I’ll be real with you—it’s been uncomfortable. And if you know anything about the human mind and the work of the Holy Spirit, that kind of discomfort usually means one thing: transformation (Romans 12:2). And as hard as it’s been… I welcome it. Because nothing grows in comfort zones.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the burden we carry—not just the pain others caused, but the impossible expectations we were never meant to bear. The man-made yokes. The religious performance. The traditions that keep us bound. It’s like we’ve been handed a script that doesn’t belong to us. But that’s a conversation for another day…
Let’s talk about two things that sound simple but cost everything: trust and forgiveness.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
See, these aren’t suggestions. These are instructions. They’re not motivational quotes. They’re commandments from a Holy God who knows how easily we destroy ourselves when we try to take control.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—it’s hard. I know I’m not the only one who struggles to trust what I can’t see and forgive what I can’t forget. I know I’m not the only one who wants to hold on to the pain a little longer… because sometimes the pain feels like the only proof that it mattered.
But here’s the deal—if we want to grow, if we want to walk with God, we’ve got to release it. We’ve got to let go of all that old weight—unforgiveness, offense, fear—and look ahead to the future He’s already written for us.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
”…having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
God’s been pressing me every single day on these topics. And let me tell you—He does not let up. Why? Because He loves me too much to let me stay the same. And He loves you that much, too.
But here’s the real tension: If we forgive… do we just pretend nothing happened? Are we just supposed to let it go, even when they haven’t apologized? Even when they keep doing it?
This is where a lot of us get stuck. We confuse forgiveness with reconciliation, and grace with denial. But the Word clears it up:
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
“For we know Him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” (Hebrews 10:30)
So no, forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to trust them again. It doesn’t mean you stay in toxic spaces or let injustice slide. Forgiveness is about handing over the right to retaliate. Not because they deserve it—but because you deserve to be free.
Remember when Jesus hung on that cross—beaten, humiliated, rejected—and still said:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
That’s the model. Forgiveness in the face of evil. Not because evil should be ignored—but because we trust that God sees everything… and nothing gets past His justice.
And here’s why it matters:
“Love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
If God is love… and His Spirit lives in us… then unforgiveness is a contradiction to our very identity. Holding onto offense becomes like drinking poison hoping the other person dies.
There is no light in darkness (1 John 1:5–6), and make no mistake—unforgiveness is darkness. It’s a work of the flesh, just like vengeance, bitterness, rage, and pride.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious… hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition…” (Galatians 5:19–21)
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
But here’s the good news:
“God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Luke 20:38)
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.” (Romans 8:11)
“You were dead in your transgressions and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1)
”…but God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ…” (Ephesians 2:4–5)
So, Church… we forgive because we’re alive. We trust because we’ve been reborn. We let go because freedom costs something. And we move forward, not because it’s easy, but because we were never meant to stay stuck.
This is how we walk in the light.
This is how we prove to the world that Jesus really does change everything.
This is how we win.