When someone breaks a promise or betrays your trust, forgiveness can feel far more difficult than simply saying, “I forgive you.” Laura Bailey shares how a broken confidence left her wrestling with hurt and resentment—and how a rainbow after a summer storm reminded her of God’s faithfulness, forgiveness, and promises.

God remained faithful even when His people were not. Through the rainbow given to Noah and the ultimate promise fulfilled through Jesus Christ, Scripture reminds us that God is faithful to forgive and restore. Remembering how much God has forgiven us can change the way we respond when others hurt or disappoint us, helping us release resentment and pursue peace while still recognizing that forgiveness does not always require reconciliation.

Highlights

• Why broken promises and betrayed trust can make forgiveness difficult
• How a rainbow became a reminder of God's faithfulness
• What Noah's covenant teaches us about God's promises
• How remembering God's forgiveness can help us forgive others
• Why forgiveness doesn't always mean reconciliation
• How healthy boundaries can coexist with forgiveness
• What Romans 12:18 teaches us about pursuing peace with others

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Full Transcript Below:

The Promise That Teaches Us to Forgive
By: Laura Bailey

Bible Reading:
I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. - Genesis 9:13 ( NIV)

I’ll never forget one of the first times I  experienced the heartache of someone breaking their promise. As I think back to the day my friend gave away the seat at the lunch table that had been promised to me, it seems so trivial.

While I’ve moved on from past adolescent hurt, the reality is that the painful feelings of broken promises and unmet expectations are present in adulthood. Unfortunately, the stakes are much higher than eating lunch alone. A breach of confidence can lead to family tensions, severed relationships, and future mistrust of people. As an adult, I long for the simplicity of recess drama, where misplaced trust held little consequence.

Recently, a close friend I confided in let slip some details of our conversation to a group of ladies. I’d specifically asked that she keep our conversation between us, and she assured me that she could be trusted. So, when, later that week, a mutual friend sent a text that read, “I am so sorry to hear you are having a hard time; I’ll be praying for you,” my initial response was not one of gratitude but grievance. 

I was deeply hurt by my friend's inability to keep her lips zipped. However, I decided not to say anything to her, but by my frosty “hello” at church the following Sunday, she knew something wasn’t right between us.  She invited me to coffee and apologized profusely for her carelessness; she genuinely didn’t mean to overshare. I could tell that she was sincerely sorry, but even as I looked into her tear-pricked eyes, my heart remained hardened towards her. We left our time together with a hug, and I said that “all had been forgiven,” but truthfully, I was still fuming inside.

While we were at the coffee shop, a summer storm came through, leaving a curtain of fresh steam, inescapable puddles, and a beautiful rainbow. On my drive home,  I couldn’t help but feel like the rainbow was following me. “I know, God, I know,” I muttered into the air. 

One of the first stories we learn as children is about Noah and the Ark and God sending a rainbow– a reminder that God keeps His promises. I began to think about the first rainbow. I wonder if, as he looked to the sky, Noah questioned whether God would keep his promise never to flood the earth again. Scripture often speaks of God’s covenants with His people, His first being that He would send a Savior to save us from our sins (Genesis 3:15). We see the fulfillment of that promise through Jesus, and every rainbow we see is an affirmation that God is faithful in keeping all His promises. 

I began to recall the countless times I hadn’t kept God’s commandments, my word, or broken a promise. Yet God is quick to forgive me and even promises to remember my sins against Him no more (Hebrews 8:12). If God, the creator of the Universe, can forgive my many acts of disobedience, both unintentional and intentional, who am I to withhold forgiveness from my friend? I was stewing over a few misspoken words when my own sinful nature was the reason why God sent His son Jesus to cleanse me of my sin—the ultimate act of love and full redemption. I could forgive my friend because I’d been forgiven, and when I’d been unfaithful, God continued to be faithful. 

It can be difficult to move past hurt, especially at the hands of someone we trust. There will be times when forgiveness is appropriate, but reconciliation may not be due to the need for boundaries or distance. But let me encourage you: let us live out the words of Paul in Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Intersecting Faith & Life:How does remembering God’s faithfulness to His promises—even when we are unfaithful—help you when you struggle to forgive others?

Further Reading:
A Prayer When You Don’t Feel Like Forgiving
Hebrews 8:12