Dr. Charles Stanley
Read | Ephesians 4:30-32
All of us have been hurt at one time or another, and the offender may well have been someone we love. We often attempt to get past the pain of such situations with comments like, “That’s okay” or “Don’t worry about it,” and yet we just can’t seem to shake that penetrating sting. Why aren’t we able to let it go?
One reason that we struggle with unforgiveness is a simple matter of pride. What prevents us from forgiving? “Because that person hurt me!” we cry. As a result of our offended pride, the injustice grows much greater than we should allow. It becomes an issue of personal insult rather than an honest mistake or a flash of insensitivity.
Another factor in our unforgiveness is bitterness. We become resentful when we refuse to deal honestly with hurt feelings and then permit the matter to fester in our heart. A 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 hurt us may remain completely unaware of our dark feelings.
Sometimes our struggle involves a misunderstanding about forgiveness. Or, we might be sitting around waiting for an apology that may never come.
If you have been hurt recently, pray for guidance. At times it’s appropriate to approach the offender and say, “You did this and it hurt me. But I forgive you and refuse to let it destroy our relationship.”
