Forgiveness is an art. It is a decision to let go of hurts and any form of resentment unfairly inflicted upon you by another party. Christians admit that letting go of the bitterness caused by somebody is often a tall order. However, as Christians, we ought to acknowledge our hurt emotions, express them with uttermost self-control, avoid more victimization, and let God be our vindicator. Going by the precepts in the Bible, both John the Baptist and Jesus taught that we should repent to receive God’s mercy; for if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Mathew 6:14-15) the truths about forgiveness are that:
- Forgiveness is giving God an opportunity to execute justice. God is just and watches over you, He sees everything that happens to you, when somebody hurts you, you can be sure God is watching. The book of Romans 12:9 advices that as Christians we should never seek to revenge wrong doings, instead, we should give room for God’s wrath and let Him vindicate us in due time.
- Forgiveness helps you lift the burden of hurt. When you forgive, the feeling of resentment that pierces your heart and makes you uncomfortable fades away.
- Forgiveness is not an indication of weakness but a sign of strength. Many people think that only weak people forgive. This fallacy has made many believers slaves to their ego. Christians should know that forgiveness is a show of boldness which outlines that no matter what comes your way, you can manage it and soar above it.
- Forgiveness is unconditional. Christians should know and practice to forgive on purpose just as Christ does. There shouldn’t be any standards met before a Christian forgives; it ought to be in our nature.
- Forgive is doing yourself a favor. When you let go, you are simply releasing the grief and negative emotions that make your life difficult. In this way you are actually doing yourself a big favor.
