“Unforgiveness is a heavy burden that weighs down the human spirit. Whether it stems from a personal betrayal, a professional disappointment, or a societal injustice, holding onto unforgiveness can poison relationships, hinder personal growth, and perpetuate cycles of pain. The refusal to extend forgiveness can create a cycle of negativity, resentment, and bitterness, ultimately trapping individuals in a state of emotional turmoil. It is only in releasing unforgiveness that one can find the freedom to heal, move forward, and reclaim their peace of mind. It's through forgiveness that we can break free from the chains of the past and open ourselves to the possibility of rebuilding trust, fostering empathy, and nurturing genuine connections with others.” ~Author Unknown AI~
WHO HURT YOU?! Was it your mom or dad? Was it a spouse, romantic partner, or good friend? Did you know that the stress we absorb being bitter over things other people have done to us is harmful enough to our bodies to cause health issues such as high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks? Now I’m not saying that’s the ONLY stress indicator, but pair that with unhealthy eating, and or lifestyles, and you most definitely are setting yourself up on a slow ball to an early grave!
Now don’t think i’m sitting here painting a picture of my own freedom from an unforgiving heart. This is something that weighs heavy on me. I fully understand that I am in desperate need of getting closer to Christ, and studying every scripture in The Bible that speaks about the dangers of having an unforgiving heart.
Trust me when I tell you… YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I just recently started feeling the convictions of holding onto bitterness for other people who did me wrong. If you talked badly about me, cheated on me, rejected me, or even remotely made me FEEL as though you were doing any of those things mentioned, I would award you with a gift of good-bye in a heartbeat!
The thing about the satisfaction of ignoring someone who hurt you, while secretly harboring hate or bitterness for them, is that even IF that person is affected by your actions, it’s YOU that is in danger of suffering spiritual attack, and opening up unwanted portals of evil. You can say what you want, but this is not something you just see in movies, or read about. The devil knows exactly when you are at your weakest moments. You may feel strong, or even empowered by the control you think you have by choosing to hold onto bitterness while X’ing someone out of your life, but baaayy-bee! Let me tell you: You (and me too) are BLOCKING THE MANY BLESSINGS that God is trying to give you.
I’m going to leave us all with some POWERFUL scriptures to meditate on that can help us to understand why not forgiving those who hurt us, will eventually cause a wedge between us and our Father God in Heaven. Feel free to share your stories, breakthroughs and thoughts. Let’s all get through our struggles together, so that we can put shame on the enemy, and help increase our Father God in Heaven’s Kingdom!!!
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Colossians 3-:13 “Make allowance for each others faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, The Lord forgave you , so you must forgive others
Mark 11:25 “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.”
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”
Matthew 18:21-22 “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!'”
Romans 12:19 “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord.”
Matthew 5:44 “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”