The Hardest Thing You'll Ever Do

I’m not talking about weight loss. I’m not talking about getting out of debt. Those things are easy compared to this. I think the hardest thing you’ll ever do is forgive someone. Why? Because forgiveness is so emotionally charged, it can seem too difficult for us to forgive.

Maybe it’s an ex-spouse who hurt you so bad that you can’t seem to see straight sometimes. Maybe it’s a friend that stabbed you in the back. Maybe it’s our parents. They weren’t there enough; they split up; they didn’t give you the childhood you feel like you deserved. Whatever it looks like, lack of forgiveness turns into bitterness.

Bitterness acts like a poisonous sedative. It comforts us to a degree, all the while slowly poisoning us and stealing our ability to enjoy life. Here’s what I know about forgiveness:

• If you wait for them to come and admit all their faults and beg for your forgiveness, you’ll never forgive.
• If you wait for them to work hard enough to “earn” your forgiveness, you’ll never forgive.
• If you wait until it becomes easy to forgive, you’ll never forgive.
• If you wait and never forgive, your life will be consumed by bitterness and regret.

The only antidote to the poison of bitterness is forgiveness. It’s not easy. It’s not simple. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. But it’s absolutely necessary for you to have the life that God wants for you.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

QUESTION: Who do you need to forgive?