Why do Christians Need to FORGIVE Others?

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Why do Christians Need to FORGIVE Others?

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation and found yourself growing a little frustrated?

Your heart starts to race, your voice gets a little louder, and your face even begins to grimace.


 

I was just having one of these conversations recently.

My whole demeanor changed the longer the conversation went on. I got angrier and angrier as I talked.

Why?

Well, at the time I didn’t know it, but later I realized I was holding on to anger towards another person in my life.

Very clearly, God brought this question to my mind,

“Have you forgiven this person for what they did to you?”

I thought I had.

I’d prayed about it, I’d talked about it, I’d written about it, and I’d even blogged about it.


Why do Christians Need to FORGIVE Others?

But, the lack of forgiveness and the anger remained… deep down inside the depths of my heart.

I was still in great pain.

Maybe you can relate?

Maybe you’ve been there as well?

Every one of us has lived through situations and relationships that hurt us.


Every one of us has lived through situations and relationships that hurt us. Click To Tweet


We’ve all experienced:

  • Loss
  • Rejection
  • Betrayal
  • Unkindness
  • Slights
  • Cruel
  • Rude
  • Mean
  • Hurt feelings

No one gets to live this life without walking through some difficult and painful situations.


No one gets to live this life without walking through some difficult and painful situations. Click To Tweet


It is just part of the journey.

So, why should we forgive?

When faced with my lack of forgiveness, I asked the Lord WHY I had to let it all go. Holding on made me feel a certain amount of power and control.


Here are 4 reasons I found to forgive – to completely give up your pain:

1} Forgive completely because God has forgiven us!

Psalm 103:3 tells us,

“He forgives your sins—every and He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! The Lord crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown; He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. God renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.”


Being wounded, offended, mistreated, and even betrayed are all a part of life. Even in the lives of believers, there is so much forgiving we must do. Why should we forgive? What does the Bible say about forgiveness? How can we truly do it? Join us for this practical article that offers scriptures, wisdom, ideas, honest life examples, and even activities for how we can forgive those who have hurt us. If you are nursing a grudge or having a hard time letting go, this post is for you!


Isaiah 55:7 reminds us,

“Seek God while he’s here to be found, pray to him while he’s close at hand. Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to God, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.”


Being wounded, offended, mistreated, and even betrayed are all a part of life. Even in the lives of believers, there is so much forgiving we must do. Why should we forgive? What does the Bible say about forgiveness? How can we truly do it? Join us for this practical article that offers scriptures, wisdom, ideas, honest life examples, and even activities for how we can forgive those who have hurt us. If you are nursing a grudge or having a hard time letting go, this post is for you!


2} Forgive completely because the Bible tells us to do so.

Very clearly, the Bible says in 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.”

We forgive because the Bible tells us to forgive!


We forgive because the Bible tells us to forgive! Click To Tweet


Matthew 18:21-22 tells us,

“Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’

‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!'”


Being wounded, offended, mistreated, and even betrayed are all a part of life. Even in the lives of believers, there is so much forgiving we must do. Why should we forgive? What does the Bible say about forgiveness? How can we truly do it? Join us for this practical article that offers scriptures, wisdom, ideas, honest life examples, and even activities for how we can forgive those who have hurt us. If you are nursing a grudge or having a hard time letting go, this post is for you!


Mark 11:25 teaches us,

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”


Being wounded, offended, mistreated, and even betrayed are all a part of life. Even in the lives of believers, there is so much forgiving we must do. Why should we forgive? What does the Bible say about forgiveness? How can we truly do it? Join us for this practical article that offers scriptures, wisdom, ideas, honest life examples, and even activities for how we can forgive those who have hurt us. If you are nursing a grudge or having a hard time letting go, this post is for you!


Ephesians 4:32 reminds us,

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”


Being wounded, offended, mistreated, and even betrayed are all a part of life. Even in the lives of believers, there is so much forgiving we must do. Why should we forgive? What does the Bible say about forgiveness? How can we truly do it? Join us for this practical article that offers scriptures, wisdom, ideas, honest life examples, and even activities for how we can forgive those who have hurt us. If you are nursing a grudge or having a hard time letting go, this post is for you!


3} Forgive completely so we can MOVE ON with our lives.

Most of us spend days, weeks, and months plotting, planning, and thinking about the way someone else has hurt us.

Maybe that person did it intentionally; maybe it was inadvertent.

Either way, they have likely moved on and not given it much thought. They are happy and going on with life. They are free and live life to the fullest.

We, however, are STUCK — fixated on the pain! We are miserable!

Max Lucado has written,

“Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free, and… realizing you were the prisoner.”

We forgive so we can MOVE ON with our lives!


We forgive so we can MOVE ON with our lives! Click To Tweet


4} Forgive completely because holding a grudge will poison us!

When you check out the synonyms for the word “grudge,” you find words such as hard feelings, bad blood, resentment, bitterness, and VENOM.

To hold a grudge is to keep poison in your soul.

To stay angry is to keep VENOM in your system!

Can you imagine being bitten by a poisonous snake or spider and not rushing to the doctor?

We don’t want poison in our bloodstreams, do we?

However, if you are like me, you’ve allowed the poison of a grudge to seep into the depths of your heart for months or even years.

It’s time to go to our heavenly Physician for a cure!

How do we do it?


How do we truly forgive someone who wronged us (and never asked for forgiveness?)

First, take it to the Lord in prayer.

I think of the words of that old hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus:

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

To begin to deal with our hurt, we must take it to the Lord in prayer.


To begin to deal with our hurt, we must take it to the Lord in prayer. Click To Tweet


Second, lay out your pain, your hurt, your grief, and everything that has hurt you before the Lord.

Be honest.

Be thorough.

Get it out!


Third, Leave it there!

Lay that pain down and leave it there!

(Repeat this process until the heaviness lifts!!)

This is not an easy thing to do, but it’s the best thing for you and me!

Do this for your family, for your life, and your ministry.

Do this for YOU!


“Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak, it sets you free.”

(DaveWillis.org)


“When a deep injury is done to us, we never heal until we forgive.”

(Nelson Mandela)


“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred.”

(Corrie ten Boom)


“Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their actions. Forgiveness stops their actions from destroying you.”

(instapray.com)


“To be a Christian is to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

(C. S. Lewis)


So, what do you think?

Have you had to forgive someone recently? How did you do it?

When you are struggling to forgive, what helps? Do you have anything good to add?

I always enjoy hearing from you!


Were you encouraged by what you read?

Then, would you share this article with a friend, co-worker, or family member?

Or, maybe you can send it to a friend or family member?

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Being wounded, offended, mistreated, and even betrayed are all a part of life. Even in the lives of believers, there is so much forgiving we must do. Why should we forgive? What does the Bible say about forgiveness? How can we truly do it? Join us for this practical article that offers scriptures, wisdom, ideas, honest life examples, and even activities for how we can forgive those who have hurt us. If you are nursing a grudge or having a hard time letting go, this post is for you!

 

 

 

 



 


helloredds@gmail.com

Best-Selling Author | Speaker | Blogger| Podcaster | When the world is falling apart, we can ALWAYS trust in God’s goodness!

12 Comments

Lauren Gaskill · 03/01/2017 at 1:12 PM

#1 is perhaps the most compelling reason to forgive. How can we not forgive others when we have been so amazingly forgiven in Christ?! Great post, my dear friend!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/01/2017 at 2:50 PM

    You are so right, Lauren!
    Jesus and what He did for us impacts every argument not to forgive!
    Hope you have a blessed day~
    Melanie

Joy Roberson · 02/28/2017 at 10:41 AM

Thank you Melanie for your encouraging words. I needed to hear that today, I have held on to resentment, grudges from my own family. At times they are they ones that will hurt you the most. I thank you for putting this in my heart today to forgive. Your right it is like poison in your body, absolutely correct. May you have a wonderful day and God bless you?

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/01/2017 at 2:49 PM

    Thank you, Joy!
    You bless me with your very kind words today.
    It’s so difficult to let go of grudges sometimes. And, I think family is the hardest!
    Let that poison out, Girl! It’s killing you!
    I’m praying that you will experience incredible freedom and joy!
    Keep me posted on how you are doing.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Martha Orlando · 02/28/2017 at 9:04 AM

Years ago, I was cruelly betrayed by people with whom I worked. It took me a long time to let go of that memory and truly forgive them. Going to God repeatedly in prayer did help me finally get to the other side, the forgiveness side, where I felt free at last.
Thank you, Melanie, for giving us so many steadfast and Biblical reasons why forgiveness is so important in the life of a Christian.
Blessings!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/01/2017 at 2:46 PM

    Hey Martha,
    It sounds like you lived through a very challenging season in your life. Forgiveness is tough! In fact, I think it’s one of the hardest things we have to do as believers!
    I’m so glad to hear that you got to the other side – to sweet freedom! Amen!
    You bless me with your kind words today.
    Thank you!
    Melanie

Carol Peninger · 02/27/2017 at 9:13 PM

Wow! Melanie, thank you for this blog. Yes ma’am, I have dealt with this. Grudges, anger. I know this is not where God wants me. Well, I knew at the time He didn’t want me in “that” place. I struggled and prayed, for a couple of weeks. Then, one day, it was pretty much gone. Since this deals with the people I work with and work for, it is pretty vital that it stay under control. And, the only way to control that nasty emotion was to let it go. It is the only way. Christ lifted me from it then, and he will probably need to in the future. It isn’t that I want to vex Him, but i’m just that hard headed.

Thank you for this one. A day late, but it arrived at a really good time.

God bless you Melanie. I’m a fan. ?

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/01/2017 at 2:45 PM

    Thank you, Carol.
    I’m so glad you stopped by and responded here in the comments!
    We have all been there – struggling with the hurt and the anger. And, work relationships can be so challenging!
    Aren’t you glad you let it go?
    I’m hard-headed too! Glad to know I’m not the only one!
    Praying that God will bless you and give you much grace with these folks!
    Appreciate you and your kind words.
    (And, I love God’s timing!)
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Comfort Sajowa · 02/27/2017 at 8:23 PM

God is good. I and my husband’s family are on going on issues . At first if turn out to be fight, we settle later on. I came home not please with what everybody was saying about me and my husband, I told God is unfair the way we were treated. I asked God to forgive me and heal my heart. I told God because of the help my husband help the mother, this help put him and my family into trouble and they don’t see it that way. And this people are pastors sisters. Please pray for me.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/01/2017 at 2:42 PM

    Hey Comfort,
    God is good, and I will be glad to pray for you and your family.
    Sometimes family is the hardest! They know us the best and they bug us the most!
    Asking God to continue to give you grace and great compassion for these who hurt you.
    You can do this because of what Jesus has done for you!
    Keep me posted~
    Blessings,
    Melanie

americanlamboard.com · 02/27/2017 at 6:30 AM

First and foremost, the reason why we need to forgive others is because we have been told to do so. Christians are supposed to be followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christ taught that people should forgive others .

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/01/2017 at 2:41 PM

    You are so right – Jesus is our model!
    He is the ultimate example on how to forgive!
    Thanks so stopping by to leave a comment today.
    Appreciate your visit~
    Melanie

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