“And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another…”

Ephesians 4:32

All of us have been hurt at one time or another and the offender may well have been someone we love. We often try to put the pain behind us and move on, yet, most often we just can’t seem to shake off that hurt we feel. Why do we find it so difficult to forgive?

One reason we struggle with forgiveness is pride. When people offend us, we take it so personal that it affects our pride. In our offended pride, the offense grows much greater than we should allow. It becomes an issue of personal attack rather than an honest mistake or flash of insensitivity on the part of the offender.

Another factor in our unforgiveness is bitterness. We become biter when we refuse to deal honestly with our hurt feelings and then allow the matter to fester in our heart; the growing sense of irritation spreads through our spirit like an infection. It has been rightly said that bitterness is like a poison that you prepare for someone else and then drink yourself. While it silently destroys our life, the person who hurts us may remain completely unaware of our dark feelings.

If you have been hurt recently, pray for strength and honesty to approach the offender and say “You did that and it hurt me. But I love you and refuse to allow this to destroy our relationship”. As you do this, Father, Mother God will minister healing to your heart emotion and fill you with peace.

Reject every attitude of unforgiveness from your heart, and ask grace from God for those who have hurt you one way or the other.