I know a man that has spent the better part of his life learning to forgive others. Then, the other part of his life learning to forgive himself. This has taken much of his joy and has even interfered with his relationships with others. I knew a woman once whom spent so many of her years with so much rage and animosity. Due to her lack of forgiveness, she harbored a lot of anger. This led to her having many health problems and creating much division in her life. Forgiveness is incredibly difficult; it is one that we can’t do without God’s help and His grace. There is so much emphasis in the Bible on forgiveness. For it is not an easy task. Which makes what Jesus did on that cross for us even more incredibly amazing. I, myself, have had to forgive. It wasn’t always easy. In truth, I’ve made mistakes, and have needed to be forgiven too. That’s the thing about us humans. We’re all a bunch of sinners in need of forgiveness. In need of God’s grace. Though also, we have to forgive each other. For what good does harboring hate or anger do?  Not once have I ever witnessed nor heard of unforgiveness doing anybody any good. We don’t forgive because it is easy. We forgive, because we too have needed to be forgiven. We forgive because it is in forgiveness where joy, healing and hope is found. Though it is God in whom we need to help us do so. Friend, forgiveness is a difficult and beautiful act of love. It is one that we cannot live without here and we need to have in order to live in eternity with God. May we choose forgiveness, where we could’ve chosen animosity. May we choose grace, when we could have harbored anger. May we choose love, where we could have harbored hate. For just as we are all sinners in need of forgiveness, we too must forgive.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

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.