Holding on to that pain can keep us from moving forward or growing. It can hold you back, pin you down or trap you. Having negativity in your heart hurts you physically, emotionally and spiritually. Holding on to all those negative emotions only hurts you.
Letting go isn’t easy. Forgiveness can be hard to give. It’s not that we can’t forgive, it’s that we don’t want to. We don’t want to let go because it feels like we are giving the power to the person who hurt us. We see it as a sign of weakness when in reality it is a sign of strength, almost like we are saying what they did was ok. We want them to suffer as we have and so we hold on. But are they suffering? Maybe they are. Really though, we are the ones that suffer from holding on. We need to forgive and let go for ourselves not for those who hurt us. For our own happiness and peace of mind.
It is our choice to hold on or let go. It is our choice to be happy or not. We can choose to hold on to the pain, waste our time and energy being miserable. Or we can choose to forgive, let go and find happiness. It is not always easy. I know that I struggle with it. Sometimes I am completely stubborn holding grudges or resentments. I know that I can’t always forgive and let go on my own. I have found, that through prayer I can learn how. Through Him, I can find the strength. He compels us to forgive.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” -Colossians 3:13
As a reward for forgiveness, we are given freedom.
This is something that I have needed lately.
