Listen

“Hurry! Go back to your father. Tell him this is what your son Joseph says: ‘God has made me master of all of Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t delay.

‘I will support you there, so you, your household, and everyone with you won’t starve, since the famine will still last five years.’”

He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. He kissed all of his brothers and wept, embracing them. After that, his brothers were finally able to talk to him.

Genesis 45:9, 11, 14-15

Think

Some hurts stay with us longer than we expect. A harsh comment, a broken promise, or a betrayal can replay in our minds long after it happened. We may not want to carry those wounds, but letting them go can feel impossible

That was Joseph’s struggle. His brothers had deeply hurt him, and years later he sees them once again in Egypt, begging for help during a time of famine. He finally had the power to get even. Instead, he chose a different path. He embraced his brothers, wept with them, and began rebuilding what had been broken.

Forgiveness isn’t easy. It’s not forgetting, excusing, or pretending injury never happened. It’s choosing not to let the past ruin the future. Often forgiveness begins with small steps—praying for someone, releasing a grudge, or asking God for the strength to move forward. When we take those steps, God can transform our wounds into places where healing and grace begin to grow, even when we may not be ready to fully forgive.

Aaron Shoppa

Question to Ponder:

What is one hurt you may be holding onto, and what is one small step toward forgiveness you could take today?

Pray

Healing One, you know the hurts I carry. Transform my heart, help me take small steps toward forgiveness, and give me the courage to release bitterness and move forward with hope. Amen.

Go

God has already given you what you need. Go forth renewed and ready to transform the world through God’s love.