Forgiveness

“Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.” (Luke 11:4 MSG)

Forgiveness is defined as a release of resentment against those who have harmed you. Unforgiveness leads to corrosive bitterness which can be even more damaging in the long term than the original offense. Thus, letting go of resentment unbinds our spirits, freeing us to move on to a fuller life.

Forgiving is not the same as forgetting. It doesn’t mean excusing or minimizing the offense.

“While God commands us to forgive others, he never told us to keep trusting those who violated our trust or even to like being around those who hurt us.”  (Rose Sweet, Focus on the Family )

We may choose to reconcile, to replace negative feelings with positive ones, but we don’t have to erase the memory or pretend it never happened. We can remind ourselves what we learned from the experience and how we have grown from it. It is inevitable that the pain will mold our perspectives, but we do not have to let it define us.

God’s love enables us to forgive others who have harmed us. When we remember that God continually forgives our iniquities, we are more willing to extend grace to those who have hurt us. As we learn to release our resentments, we gain peace and a sense of closure. The barriers of unforgiveness and bitterness are removed so that we can move forward and grow closer to God.

Lord, forgive us and help us to forgive others.