Peace and forgiveness are intimately connected in Scripture—you cannot experience lasting peace while harboring unforgiveness, and genuine forgiveness produces supernatural peace. These two spiritual realities transform our relationship with God and with others.
This comprehensive collection features powerful Bible verses exploring both peace and forgiveness, providing divine wisdom for releasing resentment, experiencing inner rest, and walking in the freedom God intends for His children.
Why Peace and Forgiveness Go Together?
Unforgiveness is one of the greatest barriers to experiencing God’s peace. When we hold grudges, harbor bitterness, or refuse to forgive, we imprison ourselves in cycles of anger and anxiety.
Conversely, extending forgiveness—both receiving it from God and offering it to others—opens the door to supernatural peace that transcends circumstances. These verses illuminate how forgiveness and peace work together to create wholeness and freedom.
Understanding Biblical Peace
Biblical peace (shalom in Hebrew) is more than the absence of conflict—it’s complete wholeness, harmony, and well-being in every area of life. God’s peace surpasses human understanding, guards hearts and minds, and remains constant regardless of external circumstances.
Understanding Biblical Forgiveness
Biblical forgiveness isn’t denying hurt or excusing sin—it’s releasing the right to revenge and choosing mercy over judgment. We forgive because God has forgiven us, and this act of grace breaks chains of bitterness while opening pathways to peace.
God’s Peace and Forgiveness Toward Us
1. Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Reflection: Christ’s blood makes peace between God and humanity. His death reconciled all things, providing both forgiveness and peace.
Application: Thank God today that peace with Him is possible through Christ’s blood. You’re reconciled, forgiven, and at peace with your Creator.
2. Romans 5:1 (ESV)
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reflection: Justification by faith produces peace with God. Through Christ, the hostility between holy God and sinful humanity is resolved.
Application: Rest in the reality that you have peace with God. The war is over; reconciliation is complete through faith.
3. Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Reflection: Jesus’s suffering purchased our peace. The punishment we deserved fell on Him, bringing us peace and healing.
Application: Meditate on Christ’s suffering that secured your peace. Let gratitude for His sacrifice deepen your appreciation for forgiveness.
4. Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV)
“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Reflection: Christ doesn’t just give peace—He is our peace. He demolished hostility between God and humanity and between different people groups.
Application: Experience Christ as your peace today. He’s broken down every wall of hostility that separates you from God or others.
5. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Reflection: God’s forgiveness is guaranteed when we confess. He doesn’t just overlook sin—He purifies us completely from all unrighteousness.
Application: What needs confessing today? Bring it to God, trusting His faithful promise to forgive and cleanse completely, restoring peace.
6. Psalm 103:12 (ESV)
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Reflection: God doesn’t just forgive—He removes our sins infinitely far. East and west never meet, illustrating eternal separation from forgiven sins.
Application: Stop revisiting forgiven sins. God has removed them infinitely far. Accept His forgiveness and live in peace.
7. Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Reflection: God delights in showing mercy. He casts sins into the ocean’s depths where they can never be retrieved, enabling perfect peace.
Application: Embrace God’s delight in forgiving you. He’s not angry or withholding—He’s compassionate and eager to show mercy.
Peace Through Forgiving Others
8. Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Reflection: Unforgiveness blocks receiving God’s forgiveness—not because we earn it by forgiving others, but because unforgiveness reveals hearts that haven’t grasped grace.
Application: Examine your heart. Is unforgiveness blocking your relationship with God and stealing your peace? Release others to receive full forgiveness yourself.
9. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Reflection: We forgive others based on how the Lord forgave us—completely, graciously, sacrificially. Our forgiveness should mirror what we’ve received.
Application: Who needs your forgiveness? Release them today, not because they deserve it but because you’ve been forgiven for so much more.
10. Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Reflection: Forgiveness requires putting away bitterness, anger, and malice. Replace them with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness modeled after Christ.
Application: Identify what needs to be “put away” before you can truly forgive. Ask God to replace it with kindness and tenderheartedness, restoring peace.
11. Mark 11:25 (NIV)
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Reflection: Unforgiveness hinders prayer and blocks experiencing God’s forgiveness. Peace with God requires releasing others.
Application: Before praying today, check your heart for unforgiveness. Release anyone you’re holding something against, clearing the pathway for peace.
12. Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV)
“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
Reflection: Jesus calls for unlimited forgiveness. We don’t keep count of offenses or set limits on how often we’ll forgive.
Application: Stop counting how many times you’ve forgiven someone. Extend unlimited grace as Christ extends it to you, and experience unlimited peace.
God’s Promise of Peace
13. John 14:27 (NIV)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Reflection: Jesus offers a peace fundamentally different from worldly peace. His peace doesn’t depend on circumstances but flows from His presence.
Application: Receive Christ’s peace as a gift today. It’s already yours—simply accept what He’s freely given.
14. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Reflection: The antidote to anxiety is thankful prayer. When we bring concerns to God gratefully, His supernatural peace guards hearts and minds.
Application: What’s causing anxiety today? Bring it to God in prayer, thanking Him for His faithfulness. Let His peace guard your heart.
15. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Reflection: Perfect peace comes from steadfast focus on God. When our minds are fixed on Him, peace flows regardless of circumstances.
Application: When anxiety rises, intentionally fix your mind on God—His character, promises, and faithfulness. Let trust produce perfect peace.
16. Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection: Joy, peace, and hope are interconnected gifts from God, activated by trust and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Application: Choose to trust God today with whatever causes anxiety. Watch as trust releases joy, peace, and overflowing hope.
17. Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Reflection: God doesn’t just offer peace—He actively blesses His people with it. Strength and peace are divine gifts available to you.
Application: Receive God’s blessing of peace today. It’s not something you generate but something He gives.
Forgiveness and Inner Peace
18. Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV)
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
Reflection: There’s a profound blessing—happiness, peace, wholeness—in having sins forgiven. This blessing comes from honesty before God.
Application: Experience the blessing of forgiveness by being honest with God about your sin. Let confession lead to the peace of forgiveness.
19. Romans 8:1 (NIV)
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Reflection: Forgiveness removes all condemnation. You’re free from guilt’s weight and condemnation’s accusations through Christ.
Application: Live without condemnation today. When guilt whispers, remember you’re free in Christ—no condemnation remains.
20. Psalm 103:2-3 (ESV)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.”
Reflection: Forgiveness is one of God’s primary benefits. He forgives all iniquity—not some, not most, but all.
Application: Praise God for His forgiveness today. Don’t forget this incredible benefit that brings healing and peace to your soul.
21. Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
Reflection: God forgives for His own sake—to display His glory. He chooses not to remember your sins, removing them from His consciousness.
Application: If God chooses not to remember your sins, stop constantly reminding Him. Walk in the freedom of forgotten transgressions and perfect peace.
Peace in Relationships Through Forgiveness
22. Romans 12:18 (ESV)
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Reflection: We’re responsible for our part in maintaining peace. While we can’t control others, we can control our responses and attitudes.
Application: Where relationships lack peace, examine your contribution. Do what depends on you to live peaceably, including forgiving.
23. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Reflection: Pursuing peace with everyone requires effort. It’s not passive but active, intentional work that reflects holiness.
Application: Make specific efforts today to pursue peace in strained relationships. What concrete step can you take toward reconciliation?
24. Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Reflection: Worship is hindered by unreconciled relationships. God prioritizes horizontal relationships (with others) before accepting vertical worship (to Him).
Application: Before worshiping today, consider if anyone has something against you. Take steps toward reconciliation to worship with clear conscience and peace.
25. Proverbs 17:9 (NIV)
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense; whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
Reflection: Love covers offenses rather than broadcasting them. Forgiveness builds relationships while unforgiveness destroys them.
Application: Choose to cover offenses in love rather than repeatedly sharing them. Foster love and peace through generous forgiveness.
Peace That Surpasses Understanding
26. Colossians 3:15 (ESV)
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
Reflection: Christ’s peace should govern our hearts like an umpire, calling decisions and settling disputes. Gratitude facilitates this peace.
Application: Before making anxious decisions, check Christ’s peace. Let it be the determining factor while maintaining gratitude.
27. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
Reflection: God offers peace not occasionally but “at all times and in every way.” Whatever you’re facing, His peace is available.
Application: Claim God’s promise of peace at all times. Whatever today holds, His peace is accessible in every way.
28. Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)
“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.”
Reflection: Righteousness produces peace naturally. Walking in alignment with God brings lasting quietness and confident trust.
Application: Examine areas lacking peace. Is unrighteousness the root? Return to righteous living and watch peace, quietness, and trust follow.
29. Psalm 119:165 (NIV)
“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”
Reflection: Loving God’s Word produces great peace and stability. Scripture provides the foundation that keeps us from stumbling.
Application: Increase your love for Scripture. As you do, expect peace to increase and stability to strengthen.
Forgiveness and Freedom
30. Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Reflection: Christ’s forgiveness brings freedom. Unforgiveness returns us to slavery—to bitterness, resentment, and pain.
Application: Stand firm in the freedom forgiveness brings. Don’t let unforgiveness enslave you again to bitterness and lost peace.
31. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NIV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Reflection: Forgiveness makes us new creations. God reconciles us to Himself then commissions us to be ministers of reconciliation to others.
Application: Embrace your identity as a new creation. Extend forgiveness to others as part of your reconciliation ministry, spreading peace.
32. Luke 6:37 (ESV)
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Reflection: The measure we use for others is the measure used for us. Extending forgiveness positions us to receive it freely and experience peace.
Application: Practice generous forgiveness. What you give returns to you multiplied, bringing greater peace to your life.
Peace Through Trust and Surrender
33. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Reflection: Peace comes from trusting God’s understanding over our limited perspective. Submission to Him brings direction and peace.
Application: Where are you leaning on your own understanding? Consciously trust God’s perspective instead, and experience peace.
34. Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'”
Reflection: Strength comes from quiet trust and restful confidence in God, not from anxious striving or unforgiving bitterness.
Application: Practice quiet trust today. Rest in God’s care rather than anxiously trying to control everything or hold grudges.
35. Psalm 37:7 (NIV)
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
Reflection: Stillness before God prevents fretting, including fretting over offenses. Patient waiting demonstrates trust and produces peace.
Application: When tempted to fret over wrongs done to you, practice stillness before God. Wait patiently, trusting His timing and justice.
Forgiveness and Healing
36. James 5:16 (NIV)
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Reflection: Confession and forgiveness facilitate healing—spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical. Transparency releases healing power and peace.
Application: Find a trusted believer to confess struggles to. Experience healing through confession, prayer, mutual forgiveness, and restored peace.
37. Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Reflection: God personally heals hearts broken by sin, betrayal, or unforgiveness. He doesn’t just diagnose—He binds wounds with tender care.
Application: Bring your broken heart to God today. Let Him heal wounds that unforgiveness or hurt have created, restoring peace.
38. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Reflection: Peacemakers reflect God’s character. Making peace often requires extending forgiveness and facilitating reconciliation.
Application: Be a peacemaker today. Extend forgiveness, facilitate reconciliation, and reflect your Father’s character.
God’s Peace in Trials
39. John 16:33 (ESV)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Reflection: Jesus promises both tribulation and peace—peace in Him despite worldly trouble because He’s already victorious.
Application: Face today’s troubles with confidence. In Christ, you have peace because He’s already overcome every challenge you’ll face.
40. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Reflection: Even offenses and hurts work toward good for those called by God. This promise enables forgiving and finding peace in painful situations.
Application: Trust that God is working even in painful situations for good. Let this truth enable forgiveness and maintain peace.
The Ultimate Peace Through Christ
41. Acts 10:36 (ESV)
“As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).”
Reflection: The gospel is fundamentally good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all, including all that threatens our peace.
Application: Return to the gospel today. Let the good news of peace through Christ anchor you when forgiveness seems difficult or peace elusive.
42. Romans 5:10 (NIV)
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
Reflection: God reconciled us while we were enemies. If He forgives us at our worst, He’ll certainly sustain us now that we’re reconciled.
Application: Remember God forgave you while you were His enemy. Let this truth empower you to forgive others and maintain peace.
43. 2 Corinthians 5:19 (ESV)
“That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
Reflection: God doesn’t count trespasses against those in Christ. He’s entrusted us with sharing this message of reconciliation and peace.
Application: Share the message of reconciliation with someone today. Help them experience the peace of not having trespasses counted against them.
Practical Peace and Forgiveness
44. Romans 14:19 (NIV)
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Reflection: Peace requires effort and intentionality. We actively pursue what leads to peace and builds others up.
Application: What specific actions lead to peace in your relationships? Make every effort to do those things today.
45. 1 Peter 3:11 (ESV)
“Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
Reflection: Peace isn’t passive—it’s actively sought and pursued. Turning from evil and doing good are prerequisites for finding peace.
Application: Actively pursue peace today. Turn from evil (including unforgiveness) and do good (including forgiving), and peace will follow.
46. Psalm 34:14 (NIV)
“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Reflection: This verse repeats the active nature of peacemaking. It requires turning, doing, seeking, and pursuing—all active verbs.
Application: Take concrete steps toward peace. What evil needs turning from? What good needs doing? Actively seek and pursue peace.
The Peace of Forgiven Sin
47. Psalm 32:5 (ESV)
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
Reflection: Confession brings immediate forgiveness. When we stop covering sin and honestly confess, God forgives and peace follows.
Application: Stop covering sin. Confess it honestly to God today and experience the peace of immediate forgiveness.
48. 1 John 2:12 (NIV)
“I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.”
Reflection: Forgiveness is already accomplished through Christ’s name. It’s a present reality, not a future hope.
Application: Live in the reality of present-tense forgiveness. Your sins have been forgiven—walk in that freedom and peace today.
49. Jeremiah 31:34 (ESV)
“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Reflection: God promises not just to forgive but to remember sins no more. Complete forgiveness brings complete peace.
Application: If God remembers your sins no more, why do you keep remembering them? Release them and embrace complete peace.
50. Hebrews 8:12 (NIV)
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Reflection: This promise of the new covenant guarantees both forgiveness and divine forgetfulness. God chooses not to remember forgiven sins.
Application: Accept God’s promise to remember your sins no more. Stop bringing up what He’s chosen to forget, and walk in peace.
Final Thoughts
Peace and forgiveness are inseparable—you cannot have one without the other. Unforgiveness imprisons you in bitterness, anger, and anxiety, stealing the peace God intends for you. Conversely, extending forgiveness—both receiving it from God and offering it to others—opens floodgates of supernatural peace.
God has forgiven you completely through Christ’s blood. Every sin—past, present, and future—is covered by His sacrifice. This forgiveness produces peace with God, ending the hostility between the Holy Creator and sinful humanity. Your part is to receive this forgiveness fully, live in its freedom, and extend the same grace to others.
Forgiving others isn’t easy, especially when hurts run deep. But unforgiveness hurts you more than the person who offended you. It’s drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. When you forgive, you’re not saying what they did was okay—you’re saying you’re releasing it to God and refusing to let it steal your peace anymore.
Prayer for Peace and Forgiveness
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me completely through Christ’s sacrifice. I don’t deserve Your mercy, yet You freely offer it. Help me receive Your forgiveness fully, releasing guilt and condemnation. Give me Your supernatural peace that surpasses understanding. Show me anyone I’m holding unforgiveness against. Give me grace to release them as You’ve released me. Replace bitterness with compassion, anger with kindness, and resentment with love. Fill me with Your peace—the peace that ruled Christ’s heart and can rule mine. Make me a peacemaker who reflects Your character. Let forgiveness flow freely through me, bringing peace to every relationship and every area of my life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Robert Hugh Benson shares inspiring Bible verses and faith-filled reflections on Prayer Forest to guide readers toward peace, hope, and prayer.