I was reminded at a recent Bible Study about the need to forgive others. No one gets through this life untouched by hurts. We get hurt in churches, in our families, at work, in politics, and a host of other places. The people we loved often hurt us, as well as the people we expect to understand us, but who do not do so.
We can carry these hurts throughout our life. They can influence all our relationships. They often destroy our ability to trust.
There are many Scriptures about forgiveness in our Bibles. The first thing you might notice is that forgiveness is both a gift (from God) and a command. God calls us to forgive because He first forgave us. [Matthew 6:14-15]
Holding grudges against another because of a hurt will forever bind us to that person. Bitterness will rise in us. Holding onto hurts will harm our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. But forgiving others releases the power to heal our hearts and relationships. It can transform our lives.
Forgiveness is not just words, it is a choice to let go of our anger, resentment, and bitterness over the hurts we experience.
Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”