April 30, 2025 // Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saint Pius V, Pope, religious
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 3:16-21
Reflect on the Word //
I suddenly hit a roadblock in my journey of healing and forgiveness when I had to choose to forgive someone who was not asking for forgiveness. What felt like years of intentional and difficult work—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally—suddenly felt meaningless. I closed that door and sealed it shut. That was not a step I was ready to take, nor did I want to.
I knew the right thing to do was to forgive anyway, but as we all know too well, the distance from our heads to our hearts is often too big. I knew in my head what I needed to do, but there was so much resistance in my heart.
It was so much easier to stay in the darkness of unforgiveness. I needed to turn toward the Light to expose the lies in my heart. I needed to recognize that the darkness of my resentment comes from believing in myself instead of the true God Who came not to condemn but that we be saved through Him (see John 3:16-21). It was in Him that I found grace, courage, and patience to forgive, even when it hurt. To forgive over and over again.
I had to prefer light, the Light, to be able to forgive. I hear His invitation again and again: Step into the light, beloved. Say yes to the freedom I offer you in forgiveness.
His desire is that we come towards the Light, Him. He so loved us that He became a Man and died for us. The Lord desires that we live in the truth so that all we do is in and through Him. He wants nothing to hold us back from Him, so that our “works may be clearly seen as done in God” (John 3:21). He wants to shed His Light on where we need healing and freedom today.
Relate to the Lord // Ask Jesus what darkened door He wants to illuminate in your soul?
Mary Peach lives in Atlanta and is passionate about helping others encounter Jesus in a real and personal way. Born in Ethiopia and adopted at age eleven, she shares vulnerably about faith, healing, and redemption through every season of life. Through her work in ministry and her writing, she hopes others feel less alone in their stories and more deeply known by God. In her free time, she enjoys photography, travel, pickleball, and spending time with friends and family.
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