READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; 18:21-35; COLOSSIANS 3:12-14

"How many times should I forgive?” I asked.

“My friend has hurt me far too many times.

Would seven times forgiving be enough,

so pain would disappear and peace be mine?”

But then I heard Him say, “No, not enough.”

And then He named a number far too high—

I could not fathom how that could be done

until I looked into His gentle eyes.

He seemed to know that I might need it too,

forgiveness from another in my path,

someone who I might hurt along the way;

and I would seek forgiveness, not His wrath.

How many times? Now in my heart I know;

from Him, a never-ending surplus will flow.

This love will follow everywhere I go… • Sharon Roberts

• It can be hard to forgive someone who has hurt us. But Jesus doesn’t call us to do it alone. If we’ve put our trust in Him, we can know that He is with us always. And, through His Holy Spirit, He gives us the grace, healing, and love we need to forgive those who wrong us. Remember, God has forgiven all our sins—past, present, and future—through Jesus’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. When we look to the cross, it helps us see that we are on equal ground with the person who has hurt us. We need Jesus and His forgiveness just as much as they do. Consider spending some time in prayer, thanking God for His forgiveness and asking Him to help you see the person who wronged you as He sees them.

• In some cases of deep hurt, forgiveness might include setting up loving boundaries to prevent further sin and harm. If you’re wondering if you might need to set some boundaries, who are trusted adults you can talk to about it, such as pastors, parents, youth leaders, and counselors?

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 145:18-19; EPHESIANS 5:18; 1 JOHN 5:14

5/30/25

God, please help my family. I don’t like it when my stepmom, Anna, drinks. I want to love her, but it’s hard when she’s drinking. She turns into a completely different person. I’ve avoided coming to my dad’s house because her drinking is pulling our family apart. Please help.

6/15/25

Today was Father’s Day. While I’m grateful for my dad and Anna, it was uncomfortable for me to come and visit. I get nervous when she drinks around me. I know that, at a certain point into her drinking, I can’t talk to her at all. At least I can talk to You, Jesus. Can You help my family find a solution?

7/1/25

Today we had an intervention for my stepmom’s drinking. I organized it. My dad, sisters, and I all shared how her drinking has affected us. While it was a painful experience to go through, I’m glad we did it. I think it has brought us closer together. We even learned that Anna wants to go back to school to get her MBA! That is so awesome! I’m proud of the progress our family is making.

7/10/25

Anna and my dad began attending an alcholism recovery group together. They both stopped drinking. Thank You, Lord, for helping Anna overcome her addiction.

8/25/25

So I found out the news when I came home from school today. In fact, no one had to tell me. I spotted a red wine stain on the floor, and then went upstairs to find Anna—drinking. I thought You were going to help our family out, Lord. Now she’s spiraling into this addiction again—I can’t take it! Why are You putting my family through this? What are we supposed to do? Please help us, Jesus, please. • Amber Metz

• Today’s devotion is based on a true story. Have you ever tried to help a loved one with an addiction? Are you struggling with an addiction yourself? Who can you talk with about these tough issues—such as a pastor, parent, teacher, counselor or someone else you trust? *

• It can be difficult to know how to show the love of Christ to a loved one who is struggling with an addiction. God calls us to show tenderhearted compassion to those who are hurting, which may include setting up healthy boundaries in some situations. And even when we aren’t sure what it looks like to love someone well, God provides an abundance of wisdom and guidance through His Word (the Bible), His Holy Spirit, and His people (the church), and He empowers us to do whatever He calls us to do. What questions do you have about loving someone who has an addiction?

• Jesus is always there. He knows your hurts, so you can talk with Him about anything (Psalm 56:8; Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 4:14-16). What things from your life can you cry out to God about today?

• There is hope for every broken situation because Jesus has already defeated sin, death, and the devil through His own death and resurrection. Yet oftentimes the road to recovery is not straightforward. Thankfully, Jesus has promised to walk with us every step of the way. His love and forgiveness do not waver. And if we’ve put our trust in Him, we can look forward to the day He will return and make all things new—then terrible things like addiction will be gone forever. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page.

* If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appoin...

READ: ROMANS 2:11; 5:8; JAMES 3:13-18

At age eight, I collected bottle caps with no idea of what I’d do with them. I kept those colorful items in our backyard where my brother, who I’ll call “Randall,” and I played. After a while, I forgot about them. Then one day, I joined Randall and our mom in the kitchen and spotted something on the table. It was a small wooden board with lots of colorful bottle caps nailed onto it in a clever arrangement. “Randall made that for me,” Mama explained. I questioned Randall about the caps and realized he’d used the ones I’d saved. I indignantly announced that Randall had taken what was mine. I acted injured and innocent even after Randall apologized and promised he didn’t know I was holding onto them.

But the truth was, I wasn’t so disappointed that Randall had used the bottle caps. I was, however, so jealous of his interesting idea and the way he’d made a present for Mama. I didn’t want the bottle caps back—I wanted to be the kid who produced something that, to me, looked like artwork. Because of my jealousy, I didn’t want to accept Randall’s apology or play with him. I didn’t want to think of another present I could create for Mama. I just wanted to stay mad.

Jesus understands human emotions and temptations, including jealousy. While there is such a thing as godly jealousy (2 Corinthians 11:1-4), God’s Word cautions us about sinful jealousy, which steals our peace and brings disorder. It keeps us from experiencing God’s best—in our own hearts, in relationship with others, and in our fellowship with Him. My envy of Randall caused me to overlook the truth that Mama loved me just as much as my brother, even though I hadn’t presented her with a gift. It’s the same with God—He does not show favoritism, and He does not love us any more, or any less, based on what we do. Even when we fall into jealousy, He still loves us. And, once we’ve put our trust in Jesus for forgiveness and new life, He helps us turn away from jealousy and rest in His love. • Allison Wilson Lee

• What is an area of your life where you feel insecure? Do you find yourself getting jealous of people who seem to succeed in something you struggle with? Consider taking some time to be honest with God about your feelings. You can bring Him your hurts and fears, confess any sins that come to mind, and rest in His sure forgiveness and infinite love.

• If you want to dig deeper, read Exodus 34:14; Romans 13:12-14; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 12:12-27; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:19-26.

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)