Forgive and Flourish
Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian faith. But everyone, whether religious or not, is faced with daily decisions to extend or ask for forgiveness. In this chapter of State of the Bible 2026, we look at a representative cross-section of Americans to learn what they believe about forgiveness and how they put in into practice.
It turns out that forgiveness is an important ingredient in a flourishing life, and that those most likely to forgive anchor their lives in Scripture. Even so, people don’t find forgiveness to be easy.
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Here’s a quick summary of what we learned…
Forgiveness Is Hard
- 2 in 5 Americans struggle to forgive others
- 1 in 3 women struggle to forgive themselves
- 1 in 5 Casual Christians find it difficult to believe that God forgives them
People find forgiving others more difficult than forgiving themselves or believing that God forgives them. 40 percent of Americans agree with the statement, “if others mistreat me, I continue to think badly of them.” Holding onto bitterness and resentment is a common human experience.
Women are more likely than men to have a hard time forgiving themselves. 33 percent of women say, “it’s really hard for me to accept myself once I’ve messed up,” compared to 26 percent of men. Whether the weight of living well is self-imposed or inflicted by others, women feel the heaviness of falling short.
Those who regularly attend church but do not place great importance on their faith struggle with divine forgiveness. 19 percent of Casual Christians believe, “I have done things for which there is no divine forgiveness.” Going to church does not guarantee that someone will understand and live by the forgiveness God freely offers.
Forgiveness Is Healing
Forgiveness is essential in healing from a painful experience. When forgiveness becomes a part of someone’s life, flourishing and hope do, too. And at the same time, stress and loneliness decrease.
But forgiveness is so much more than a therapeutic experience. It’s at the heart of the gospel.
Forgiveness Is Freeing
Forgiven people forgive. Those who experience God’s forgiveness are better able to forgive others. Nearly 7 in 10 people who have not experienced God’s forgiveness struggle to forgive others. Being a recipient of forgiveness can change our hearts toward those who have hurt us.
Scripture engagement helps us forgive. Those who read the Bible consistently are more likely than those who do not to forgive. Forgiveness isn’t the same thing as reconciliation, and it doesn’t mean justice isn’t pursued. But the Bible teaches that final justice belongs to God, which means we can release hatred and resentment. We can learn to love our enemies when we know how much we have been loved.
The Bible defines what forgiveness is, why we need it, why God gives it, and why we can extend it to others. This enables us to live freely, understanding God’s incredible gift of mercy, trusting him to be the one who rights all wrongs. With gentle guidance, church and ministry leaders can invite their people into deeper knowledge of God’s forgiveness and how it can set them free today.
Chapter Contents
Here’s what you’re getting when you download the chapter:
- How men and women differ in their experiences with forgiveness
- How forgiveness impacts well-being
- A breakdown of forgiveness by faith participation levels
- Forgiveness by Scripture Engagement
- A look at the ability to forgive by experiences of divine forgiveness
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