Have you ever found it difficult to forgive? You tried to let it go, but you find yourself thinking about that incident–again…rolling it over and over in your mind.
I know it can be hard to forgive.
Sometimes I find it easier to change when I know what happens if we don’t.
Hebrews 12:15 AMP
See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it, many be defiled;
Resentment comes when we let unforgiveness go to the next level and don’t let it go.
And unforgiveness doesn’t just affect us; it affects MANY people.
Look at the second part of the verse: “many be defiled...”
Many in this scripture mean a significant number, and because of the emphasis added it means not just many but a TREMENDOUS amount.
When we hold onto unforgiveness, it turns into resentment, and it doesn’t just affect a few people but a TREMENDOUS amount of people. Ouch!
Now when we let unforgiveness take root in our lives, the scripture says it “causes trouble.”
It causes trouble means a tumultuous crowd– a mob; vex someone with the force of a raging mob (a mighty momentum carrying someone along).
Picture it–unforgiveness VEXES others with a force of a RAGING mob!
Like the crowd, after their soccer team wins (or loses) and flips over cars, sets fires, loots…It’s total mayhem.
Our unforgiveness mobs others, robbing them, flipping their lives upside down, and setting fire to the things they love. No one is ever the same.
Defile in Greek means to stain (with paint or dye); figuratively, it means to stain (defile) the soul.
Our unforgiveness not only mobs it stains others' souls.
It reminds me of the color run. By-standers throw paint on those that run by staining them with a rainbow of colors.
That paint comes off relatively easily, but it doesn’t come out so quickly when we allow our unforgiveness to stain someone’s soul.
Now what?
1. Ask forgiveness and choose to let it go.
But, realize the damage has been done, and others have been defiled/polluted/stained by our choice to allow the root of bitterness to grow.
2. Go to the person you have an issue with and make it right.
If you cannot go to the person directly, say a prayer of forgiveness. Put your foot down and say no more. You choose to forgive and let it go.
Ask forgiveness when you go to anyone that’s been “stained” in your unforgiveness wake. It helps them forgive and clean off the “paint” that’s stained them.
I want to leave you with one more thought.
3. Prevention is the best medicine…
Start by pulling unforgiveness up when it’s small before those roots grow deep.
Still, having a hard time forgiving?
The easiest way to forgive is to remember how much God forgave us. It was God’s grace that saved us, not because we earned it.
Offer the same grace God offers you, and you’ll find it so much easier to let it go.
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You’ve got this, and Father’s got you!
Thanks a Bunch for listening!
Until Next Time, Live Fearlessly Free!!
