Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands in the Christian life. Many people carry bitterness for years, rehearsing in their minds what someone said or did.
The wound becomes a weight, and the anger eats away at them from the inside. Scientists even affirm what Scripture has already revealed—that unforgiveness can affect your health, causing stress, anxiety, and even physical sickness. There are many testimonies of people getting healed of chronic headaches and other stress related sicknesses simply because they chose to forgive and let go of unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. It doesn’t harm the offender—it harms you.
Jesus knew this when He taught His disciples to pray: “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). He also made it very clear: “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15). To drive the point home, He shared the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21–35)—a man forgiven of a massive debt but unwilling to forgive someone who owed him very little. His lack of forgiveness brought judgment back on himself.
The truth is simple: God has forgiven us far more than we will ever have to forgive anyone else. Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross, yet He looked at us with mercy. If we have received such grace, how can we withhold forgiveness from others?
Imagine carrying a backpack filled with heavy stones everywhere you go. Each stone represents a grudge, a hurt, or a memory you refuse to let go of. The longer you carry it, the more it slows you down. But forgiveness is like opening the bag and setting the stones down. The burden lifts. You walk lighter. Your soul breathes again.
Friend, don’t let unforgiveness poison your life. Don’t stand before God with a heart full of grudges. If you’re holding on to hurt, release it. Forgive—not because the offender deserves it, but because Christ forgave you. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse the wrong; it frees you from the chains of bitterness and restores your fellowship with God.
Today, choose to forgive. Make peace in your heart. Walk in freedom with a clear conscience before the Lord, and reflect His grace to others.
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