Outcomes

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The Greek word for forgiveness is aphiēmi. It means letting something go, sending it away, leaving it behind, and being done with it.

That is exactly what God has done for us. He doesn’t partially forgive. When Jesus went to the cross, it was all or nothing.

Here’s where it gets hard. He wants us to forgive others the same way.

When someone wounds us, our first instinct is often to lash out, yell, or say something that wounds them right back. Our natural response is retaliation. Jesus calls us to something far different: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Forgiveness isn’t pretending the hurt never happened. It isn’t saying the offense was acceptable. It’s choosing to place justice in God’s hands rather than carrying it ourselves.

There’s a consequence for being unforgiving. It steals peace, interrupts sleep, fuels anxiety, and keeps old wounds fresh. When we forgive, both parties benefit.

Paul writes in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Notice that little phrase: as far as it depends on you. We cannot control another person’s actions, but we can control our response.

Years ago my mother often reminded us, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It took me a long time to understand that obedience to those simple words almost always changes the outcome.

When old hurts begin to replay in my mind, I pray. Then I fill my thoughts with Scripture until my heart catches up with my prayers. God is faithful to meet me there.

Forgiveness is rarely easy.

Freedom is worth it.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your endless mercy and complete forgiveness. You have removed my sins as far as the east is from the west. Pour Your unconditional love into my heart and help me extend it to those who have hurt me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can release any bitterness or resentment I may be holding onto. I choose to let go of my need to control or fix the situation, and I lay it all at Your feet. Help me to trust You with the outcome and walk forward in peaceful freedom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I am joining a great group of Christian writers at 5-Minute Friday. We write for 5 minutes each Friday (sometimes longer). You can share your blog here https://fiveminutefriday.com/2026/07/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-outcome/

After “Amen”

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How often have we prayed, “Father, help me love everyone I meet today”,  only to walk away from our prayer spot and forget we ever asked?

Then someone says something that irritates us…

Then our carefully made plans fall apart…

Then someone repeats what another person has said about us…

Then we feel overlooked, misunderstood, or hurt…

Those little “thens” may be God’s answer to our prayer.

I’ll be honest. My first response isn’t always love.

Sometimes I fuss. Sometimes I fume. Sometimes I can think of a hundred ways to defend myself or get even. That’s usually when I call a trusted friend, spend time in prayer, and listen carefully for God’s voice.

Years ago, I would simmer for a while and then simply let it go. Well…I still simmer once in a while. But I don’t simply let it go anymore.

If the relationship matters, I’ve learned to go to the person and honestly say, “What happened really hurt me.”

Most of the time, we talk, we listen, and we understand each other better. Sometimes we can’t resolve everything, but I’ve learned that love isn’t passive. Love is willing to have difficult conversations with grace.

Jesus said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

Perhaps loving like Jesus isn’t found in avoiding conflict.

Perhaps it’s found in choosing kindness, truth, forgiveness, and humility in the middle of it.

So tomorrow morning, when you pray, “Father, help me love everyone today,” don’t be surprised if your first opportunity arrives before breakfast. 

When God Smiles

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In my lifelong search to understand God’s love, I’ve discovered that it’s more than His protection and provision; it’s more than His forgiveness and great sacrifice. One of the sweetest ways He expresses His love is through His delight in us.

We recently had guests for lunch, and their youngest son was completely fascinated by our black cat’s favorite sleeping place. Ebony loves to burrow under quilts, blankets, pillows—actually, under just about anything that will cover her.

We would gently lift the edge of the throw she was hiding beneath, and all little Isaiah could see were two bright green eyes peering back at him. Every time, he burst into that wonderful, delighted laugh that only a two-year-old can give.

As I listened, I could almost hear God smiling.

In that moment, I realized He was giving me another glimpse of Himself through a child’s joyful laughter.

Psalm 149:4 says,

“For the LORD takes delight in His people.”

What a beautiful thought! The God who created the universe delights in us.

That verse reminds me of another striking promise found in Zephaniah 3:17:

“The LORD your God is with you… He will take great delight in you… He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Perhaps this is one of the dimensions of God’s love we often overlook. His love doesn’t merely provide, protect, forgive, and redeem. It delights.

Psalm 147:11 adds another beautiful thought: “The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” 

There’s a beautiful connection between God’s love and His delight in us. God doesn’t simply love us because He is love. He also enjoys us. His love is joyful. He delights in His children. Perhaps that’s why a child’s delighted laugh caught my attention. For just a moment, it gave me a tiny glimpse of the delight God takes in us, His children.

He shows us His love in countless ways—a child’s laughter, hummingbirds dancing around the feeders, the colors and patterns of creation, people who reflect His character, and quiet moments that remind us He is near.

Today, watch for the LORD’s delighted love.

 It’s everywhere.

Hide It In Your Heart

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Lately, I’ve been pulling out Scriptures I memorized years ago. They serve as reminders, calm my stress, guide my prayers, and strengthen me in countless situations.

God’s Word stored in my heart is never out of reach.

We are encouraged to commit Scripture to memory for lifelong use (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16).

Zechariah 4:6 reminds me that my own strength and power are nothing compared to the Spirit of the LORD.

Luke 6:45 keeps me aware that my thoughts influence my words and actions.

Proverbs 3:5-7 helps when my trust in people is low, and I’m stressing about what is happening around me. He is the One I can trust in every situation. Verse 7 adds another important reminder: “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Sometimes I need to remember that I’m not nearly as wise as I may try to portray. My understanding is limited, but God’s wisdom never is. The older I get, the more I realize that true wisdom is not found in what I know, but in knowing I need Him. Without His guidance, I can easily miss the path He wants me to take.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 is another favorite. Many people, including me, love the promise found in verse 11. Yet verse 12 is equally powerful: when I come to Him and pray, HE WILL HEAR ME. What a promise! That reminder becomes especially meaningful when I feel that others are not listening.

The importance of memorizing Scripture appears early in the history of God’s people. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 instructs believers to keep God’s Word in their hearts, close to their bodies, part of their conversations, and visible in their homes. The message is clear: God’s Word should be woven into every moment of everyday life.

There is great comfort in having God’s Word so close that all I need to do is think about it. Long after my Bible is closed, His truth remains with me, ready to guide, encourage, correct, and remind me that I am never alone.

The Vibe May Change…

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A couple of days ago, I spent hours trying to figure out why the “Follow Me” button had disappeared from my blog. With the help of my AI assistant, I checked settings and lists, tried everything I could think of, and followed every suggestion. I knew the answer had to be somewhere in the program.

I could see the follow box. I could see the list of followers. Everything seemed to be there, yet the button refused to appear on my posts.

Then I discovered a list of buttons that had somehow been switched off. All I had to do was turn one setting back on, and voilà—my button was restored.

That little adventure made me think about our relationship with God.

Sometimes we experience a sense of goneness. We pray, worship, and read Scripture, yet God feels distant. We wonder, I’m here. Where is He? We can’t feel the vibe of His presence, so we begin to assume something has gone wrong.

But feelings are not facts.

God is faithful and always keeps His word. David wrote in Psalm 139:7-10, “Where can I flee from Your presence?” The answer is nowhere. Joshua reminds us in Joshua 1:9 that “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” And Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The bottom line is this: God hasn’t gone anywhere.

When His presence seems hidden, the problem isn’t that He has disappeared. More often, we’ve become distracted, discouraged, or focused on the wrong things. The connection is still there because He is still there.

In Isaiah 41:8-10, God makes this promise:

“You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off;
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

The vibe may change.

God never does.

This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up