The Bible has many passages about forgiveness, but as we all know, it is much easier to talk about forgiveness than to forgive. Whether it is a debt or a transgression, there is power in forgiveness. To move on to a productive life, you must forgive and let go!
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to forgive. The act of forgiveness can be especially hard when the person who has caused the harm refuses to accept the responsibility. Many times, you will be left with feelings of anger and bitterness.
Bitterness is a mental prison. When you hold onto forgiveness you experience so much heaviness, stress, and exhaustion. Grudges weigh you down, deplete your energy, and gives the other person control that shouldn’t exist in your life.
The act of forgiving does not mean that you are okay with the transgression, or that you can allow the transgressor free reign to come back into your life as though nothing has ever happened. Instead, it means that you have made peace with the pain and have decided to let it go because holding onto that pain will only hurt you and does nothing to the offender. This is especially true when the offender does not even realize that s/he has offended.
Forgiveness lets the offender know that you are beyond their reach. After becoming better at forgiving you learn to empathize and have compassion for those who offend you.
The act of forgiveness is not for others, but for you. Not forgiving someone is like locking yourself into a prison, all the while you are holding the key. You are locking yourself in jail and serving someone else’s time. You can make a choice to carry that heavy burden, or you can release it and let it go. It is freer to move on.
Forgiveness leads to feelings of understanding, empathy, and compassion for the one who offended or hurt you.
Remember, it does not mean forgetting or excusing the harm that was done to you, making up with the person who caused damage, it just frees you up to go on with your life.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Therefore, it takes a strong person to face pain head-on, forgive, and release it. Guilt never makes anyone feel better. So, remember, forgive and move on.
Forgiveness is the highest, most beautiful form of love. Try it! You might find out that you get a renewed sense of peace and happiness in return. You’ll experience fantastic power and freedom when you do.
Forgive whatever holds you back. Conduct a forgiveness ceremony if you need to. Burn it, shred it, destroy it, turn it over to God, and then move on with your life.
If you still haven’t made peace with a person, or circumstance, the only option is to forgive. Jesus forgave the very men nailing him to the cross, and I think there’s a reason that detail remained in God’s Word. He knows the damage unforgiveness can bring, and he wants the world to see his power and mercy when we do let go and forgive.
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