Session 11

Why it’s important to reconcile, not just forgive and forget

From Win at Home: A 14-Day Devotional

Ever notice how the morning after a big fight nothing feels quite right? It doesn’t matter who you blew up at — your roommate, your spouse, or your kid — the tension in the air is unmistakable.

Repairing a relationship often takes more than muttering "I’m sorry" and moving on. Real reconciliation requires repentance.

Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Nothing gets resolved by pretending everything is fine, but expressing genuine remorse and taking steps to make it right? That is how reconciliation begins.

It takes one person to repent, but two people to reconcile. The person who has been hurt has a choice to make as well: Will you choose to forgive?

Bitterness is empowering for a moment. After all, who doesn’t like the feeling of being right? But bitterness will destroy a relationship if we give it a home in our homes. Holding onto bitterness and refusing to forgive is one common way we repay evil for evil (Romans 12:17).

The Bible challenges us to be peacemakers. “... as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). We can’t make someone else repent, but we can choose to forgive. That part of peacemaking is entirely up to us.

Reconciliation is focused on restoring broken relationships, not approving of someone’s sin. It’s acknowledging the sin and choosing to repent. It’s seeing someone’s vulnerability and choosing to forgive. And when both sides participate willingly, it’s a perfect picture of what Jesus did for us.

Reflect:

• How does conflict get resolved in your home? Or, does it?
• Where trust is deeply broken, restoration is a process—-sometimes, a lengthy one. Is there anyone you need to take a step toward today?