Harboring Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness has many different faces. Such as anger, bitterness, grudges, and hate. Do you allow yourself to wear any of these faces? If so, not only are these faces dangerous, but they are also health hazards. I love the way Joyce Meyer describes unforgiveness in her book, Beauty for Ashes. She says “Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will die!” Wow, that pretty much says it all. You drink poison expecting it to kill the other person, not going to happen.

Let’s take a look at Biblical definitions of these 4 dangerous words:

1. Anger: Strong emotional reaction of displeasure, often leading to plans for revenge or punishment.
2. Bitterness: Anger and disappointment of being treated unfairly.
3. Grudge: To grumble or murmur at any person or thing, to entertain an envious or covetous feeling, to do or give anything unwillingly.
4. Hate: A strong dislike or ill will toward persons or things.

As you can see, having unforgiveness or wearing any of its faces toward anyone is not a good thing. It doesn’t hurt the other person, it only hurts you. That person has moved on and forgotten all about whatever happened. You are still holding on to it and now it has began to affect you and your health. You find your health beginning to fail and you don’t know why. It’s because of all of the poisons you have in your body and they are destroying you. LET IT GO, FORGIVE!

Even God instructs us in His Word to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 reads (14) “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (15) But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Look at all of the unforgiving things we have done, but God still forgave us. We need to do likewise and forgive others. When we forgive someone, it is not so much for the other person as much as it is for us.

So, whether it’s a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, a relative, a co-worker or whoever. Let’s be obedient to the Word of God and forgive. Replace that unforgiveness and all of its ugly faces with the genuine Love of God. Remember, when we forgive, our Heavenly Father forgives us. God Bless 🙂