Forgiving Challenge: A 40-Day Life-Changing Journey to Freedom

by Zach Zehnder

Forgiving Challenge is a 40-day journey that will lead you to more freedom than you ever thought possible. Even though the offer of freedom is available to all, many still live in bondage. The key to unlocking your freedom is the forgiveness that Jesus has already won for you. His forgiveness not only assures you of eternal life with Him but offers you an opportunity to live with purpose today. Bring all of your sin, your guilt, and your shame to Jesus and experience this gift of grace in your life. A forgiven person is a forgiving person. So come. Be free.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Zach Zehnder is a husband, father, speaker, author, and pastor. His life mission is to challenge people of all ages to become greater followers of Jesus. Zach continues to seek new and innovative ways to share the Gospel with the world, from raising money to buy a recovery house by breaking a Guinness World Record for the Longest Speech Marathon to paying for the church logo to be tattooed on church members. In 2017, Zach wrote the bestselling book Red Letter Challenge and together with his wife Allison, in 2019, co-wrote Red Letter Challenge Kids. In 2020, Zach wrote Being Challenge and co-authored Being Challenge Kids. In addition to writing books, you can regularly find Zach and Allison blogging and speaking about the importance of Jesus at www.redletterchallenge.com.

Reviews

[Crystal Swafford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I believe the intent for this book is in the right place and the concept is needed to propagate. However, this book is extremely male-centric; a significant editing to relate to females could be a major improvement. A specific example is the test on p 66: it does not address all 10 commandments or even 7 deadly sins. A female might get through this test and answer all or mostly “no”. Instead, the test could also ask about gossip, coveting, envy, etc. The rest of the book is about the same; I had a really difficult time relating to the very male: dad and football-ish examples.

The omission test on day 10 is not modern-applicable at all. The point Jesus was always trying to make is love your neighbor. More appropriate questions might be: did you get groceries for the shut-in neighbor? Did you take the family w sick member a meal? Did you offer to babysit for stressed out new parents? It’s more about are we loving those in our circles? Most people are not called into prison ministry. When I read this day, I was bedridden with a serious illness. I felt like the chapter is giving me a guilt trip when I couldn’t even care for myself let alone my God-given family or of all things, a stranger in prison?!?!

Big disappointment. This book is probably most applicable to new male Christians age 20s and 30s.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my second book by Zehnder and the only reason I finished either of them was because we were doing a group Bible study at church. I am not the target audience. I felt like there were a few more liberties taken in that tried to make particular details in the Scripture relevant by connecting them to other details, which came off feeling like a bit more stretch than seemed feasible. There were quotes from authors and music lyrics from artists that... gave me some pause, as a Lutheran. The overall theme of forgiveness is absolutely one I can get behind, but again, Zehnder failed to connect with me, specifically. And can we talk about how difficult it is to read regular sized text on a red page? Even though they printed it in white rather than black, the only time it didn't strain my eyes to read it was when the text was in bold. This may resonate with someone, but that someone isn't me. Two stars for the topic, and that's probably being generous.

[Mat Rueter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be free and tell your story!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get devotion especially during Lent.

[The_J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Season of Lent 2025 - Be all in Today for Jesus and His Forgiveness. If you don't fill the world with joy and forgiveness, who will?