Holding a grudge clutters the soul with bitterness.
Living hurt or nursing regret doesn’t help you live in wholeness today. It keeps you living wounded.
Forgiveness is vital to your soul and it is a journey Jesus wants to walk you through.
It is vital because you are valuable.
Jesus spoke about this to the crowd that followed Him up a mountain:
“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.”
Matthew 5:38-42 MSG
God doesn’t deny that bad things happen or that people will take advantage of you but He also doesn’t abandon you to it either.
Jesus is saying that when someone takes advantage of you, give them what you have and move on with your life. Let it go. Forgive them. Ask God to bless them.
In this way, you will be living in the abundance of God’s love instead of the famine of your past hurts.
You are not meant to carry the heavy load of resentment and regret.
What resentment or regret is weighing you down?
What grudge is poisoning your soul?
Bring them all to Jesus and lay each one at the foot of the cross. Then, take a deep breath and allow Him to fill the newly evacuated space with the cleansing power of His love.
