Forgiveness is one of the most profound acts of love we can extend — yet it is also one of the hardest. When someone we love wounds us deeply, the idea of giving them a second chance can feel like a dangerous risk. As human beings, we can’t easily forget the pain others cause us, even if we manage to forgive. But what if, just like God forgives and forgets, we are called to offer that same grace — even when it costs us something?
God’s Example: Forgiveness and Forgetfulness
Scripture is filled with the message of forgiveness. In Hebrews 8:12, God says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” God’s mercy is complete — He chooses not just to forgive but to forget our wrongs. As believers, we are urged to model our lives after His character, yet our human hearts struggle. We remember the hurt. We carry the scars. And sometimes, it feels safer to guard ourselves than to offer forgiveness freely.
Still, God’s nature reminds us that true love requires grace — not because the offender “deserves” it, but because we have been recipients of undeserved mercy ourselves.
Should We Give Second Chances?
The Bible doesn’t promise that second chances are without risk. In fact, it acknowledges the reality of betrayal and pain. Yet it continually points toward forgiveness. Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 18:21-22, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times,” emphasizing that forgiveness should be abundant.
However, giving someone a second chance doesn’t mean ignoring wisdom. Proverbs 4:23 advises, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Sometimes, wisdom and forgiveness must walk hand-in-hand. We can forgive fully but also move forward with boundaries and discernment, trusting God’s timing.
Faith, Forgiveness, and Risk
Choosing to forgive — and perhaps to give a second chance — is an act of faith. It’s believing that God can heal what was broken, even if we can’t see how. It’s trusting that, whether the relationship is restored or not, He will use our obedience to grow us and glorify Himself.
Sometimes, God separates people for a season to work individually in their hearts. This separation isn’t always permanent; reconciliation often requires one or both partners to humble themselves and seek forgiveness. It takes courage to step out again — to risk being hurt — but it also reflects God’s redemptive nature.
Forgiving and risking it all is never something we should do recklessly. It should be bathed in prayer, soaked in Scripture, and guided by wise counsel. But when led by the Spirit, offering a second chance can be one of the greatest testimonies of God’s love working through us.
Final Thoughts
Second chances are not easy, and forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the past didn’t happen. But when we walk in faith, we allow God to take the broken pieces of our lives and create something new.
As we reflect on our own need for grace, may we be people who forgive, who love bravely, and who trust that, even in the risk, God is writing a redemptive story bigger than we can imagine.
Troy P Zehnder 