A New Year That Begins With Forgiveness

This is a true story from the life of Corrie ten Boom, a Christian woman from the Netherlands.

During World War II, Corrie and her family risked their lives to hide Jewish people from the Nazis. Because of this, Corrie and her sister were arrested and sent to a brutal concentration camp. There they suffered extreme hunger, sickness, abuse, and shame. Sadly, her sister died in that prison.

Corrie, however, was unexpectedly released. After the war, she traveled across many nations, sharing one powerful message: God’s forgiveness and love.

At a New Year’s meeting where Corrie was speaking, a man approached her after the message. Her heart stopped for a moment—she recognized him.

He was a former prison guard from the very camp where Corrie and her sister had been tortured. He had been one of the cruelest men there.

Standing before her, he said, “I have come to know Jesus Christ. God has forgiven my sins. Will you forgive me too?”

From a human point of view, this request felt impossible. The pain, the memories, the loss of her sister, all rushed back. Yet Scripture echoed in her heart:

“If you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you.” (Matthew 6:15)

Corrie realized forgiveness was not a feeling, t was an act of obedience. She silently prayed and chose faith over emotion. As she reached out and took the man’s hand, she later testified:

“In that moment, God’s love flowed through me. I knew that forgiveness did not come from my own strength, but from Christ living within me.”

That encounter became a message, not only for that New Year, but for all of us.

As We Enter the Year 2026

Let us remember first this truth: God has forgiven us, and because of that, we are called to forgive others.

Even if the past year left scars,

Even if some experiences seem impossible to forgive,

Even if the pain has not fully healed,

Let us step into this new year with hearts willing to forgive, and open ourselves to the fullness of God’s grace.

Let us show the world what it truly means to be children of God.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

-Elisha Bonnke