When you have been hurt and are angry, do you forgive the person that has hurt you? Do you punish the person by not forgiving him? How can I forgive a person that has done ……. to me?
When you try and punish someone that has hurt you, how do you feel? Does the pain of the hurt go away? No, it does not and may even increase. Have you ever said you forgive someone but deep within your heart you make another decision to not forgive? When you hold unforgiveness in your heart you continue to suffer.
God knows the sin of unforgiveness will choke the very life out of our souls. He permits us to experience discomfort for the sole purpose of bringing us to a place where we forgive ourselves and others. The misery caused by our unforgiveness can painfully affect our lives in many ways.
God never wants to deliver anyone into his discipline for our unforgiveness. That painful course is determined solely by our choosing. When we forgive in our heart, the sentence of discipline is over and the suffering we have been experiencing ceases.
Prayer:
Dear God, please help me to forgive others. It is hard when I am hurt. You have forgiven me of all my sins through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to remember that when I am struggling to forgive another person. In Jesus name, Amen.
