Hey my friend welcome to the latest edition of my newsletter, thanks for being here!
I wanted to take a quick moment to say thank-you so much to every single person who reads this newsletter, it’s continuing to grow by the grace of God and I’m so thankful for that.
Also, so many people regularly respond via email sharing their story or asking for prayer, I wanted to assure you I read every reply and I am praying for every need. I don’t always manage to find time to be able to reply (I have a 9-5 and a young family) but be assured you are in my prayers.
Finally, a small ask for prayer for myself if I may. I’ve been having some tech issues with my laptop which has finally given out this week - Obviously this is an issue as it’s what I use to write all my content but I’ve a new one on the way soon and I’d appreciate your prayers that it all runs smoothly so I can get back to it!
As always, if this blesses you, share it with someone who needs it. They can sign up free at thelowkeychristian.com/newsletter. God bless you, now let's get into it.
This week's theme: Forgiveness.
Today might step on your toes. It stepped on mine when I first understood it.
FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU
We love the part where God forgives us. We're less keen on the part that comes right after.
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Let's sit with that. How did the Lord forgive you? Reluctantly? After you'd grovelled enough? Once you'd proven you wouldn't do it again? After He'd lectured you for a few months first?
No.
He forgave you freely. Before you even understood what you'd done. Before you'd cleaned yourself up. While you were still mid-sin. Romans 5:8 says "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Not after we got our act together. While.
That's the standard. And it's brutal.
Because if we're honest, most of us don't want to forgive like that. We want to forgive on our terms. We want the person to apologise first. We want them to understand exactly what they did. We want them to feel as much pain as they made us feel. Then maybe, if they grovel enough and we feel like it, we'll forgive them.
But that's not how God forgave us. He forgave us before we ever apologised. He forgave us while we were still doing the thing. He took the hit and absorbed the cost and offered us mercy we didn't earn and couldn't repay.
And He says: now you do the same.
I know this is hard. I know some of you reading this have been hurt in ways that no devotional can fully address. I'm not telling you that forgiveness is easy. I'm telling you what God said.
But here's the comfort in this. Forgiving someone the way God forgave you doesn't mean they avoid consequences. It doesn't mean what they did was OK. It doesn't even necessarily mean you let them back into your life.
It means you release them from the debt they owe you. Because the truth is they can never actually repay it. Whatever they did, no amount of apology or guilt or remorse will ever make it right. The damage is done. The debt is uncollectable.
So you have two choices. Hold a debt that can never be paid and grow bitter holding it. Or release the debt and let God settle the account.
Forgiving as God forgave you is choosing option two. It's saying "I can't make them pay enough to undo this. So I'm not going to try. I'm putting this in God's hands and walking away."
That's freedom. That's the kind of forgiveness that changes you. Not because the other person earned it. Because you decided you were done being the debt collector.
YOUR ONE THING FOR TODAY
Think of the person you've been trying to collect a debt from. The one you've been waiting for an apology from. The one you've been hoping karma catches up to. Today, write this on a piece of paper: "[Their name] owes me nothing. The debt is closed. God is the judge now." It doesn't mean they didn't owe you. It means you're done waiting for them to pay.
God, I've been trying to collect on a debt that's been killing me to hold. I want them to pay. I want them to feel what I felt. But I'm realising that even if they did, it wouldn't restore what was lost. Today I'm closing the account. They owe me nothing. You're the judge now. Forgive me for trying to take Your job. Help me to forgive the way You forgave me. Freely. Fully. Without requiring anything in return. Amen.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
If forgiveness has been weighing on you and you need something to help you let go of the heavy stuff, I made a video called The Secret Bible Verse That Destroys Anxiety. Forgiveness and anxiety are more connected than people realise.
OVER TO YOU
Who's the debt you need to close? You don't have to share names. Just hit reply and say "I'm closing it." That's enough. I'll be praying.
God bless you, my friend.
The LowKey Christian
P.S. Something new is coming. I've been quietly working on a project for the past few weeks and it's nearly ready to share. More on that next week!!
P.P.S. Every eBook and merch purchase directly supports this ministry and helps keep The Quiet Word free. Browse the store at https://thelowkeychristian.com