Forgiving others is the best thing you can do for yourself. Unfortunately, forgiveness can be very challenging because it’s hard to let go of what happened. It may seem impossible to forgive someone who has incredibly hurt you but understanding the negative impact that unforgiveness can have on your life may help you with the forgiveness process.
I’m sure you’ve heard the quote “unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and waiting for the other person to die”. It’s true.
If you don’t forgive:
- you risk bringing anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience.
- you become so wrapped up in what happened in the past that you cannot enjoy the present.
- you loose valuable time reminiscing and rehearsing what happened and what you’re going to do to get even.
Forgiveness is necessary for your own spiritual and mental health. Unforgiveness can also lead to negative thoughts, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, eating disorders, and a whole list of other health issues. And in many cases, the person who you have not forgiven has moved on and is not being affected by your unwillingness to forgive. To withhold forgiveness keeps alive emotions of hurt, anger and blame.
Forgiveness does not mean that the offense did not happen. It does not mean that they were right and you were wrong. Rather, forgiveness gives you the kind of peace that will help you go on with your life. Forgiveness is the gateway to your happiness and personal well being. Make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. No matter how big or small the offense, “we should be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
If forgiving someone who has hurt you seems impossible, pray and ask God to help you with your unforgiveness. Nothing but good comes from forgiveness. When you choose to forgive you are setting two prisoners free; one is the person you have forgiven, the other one is you.
