“Unshackled from Bitterness: The Liberating Power of Forgiveness”

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37, KJV)

Have you ever felt like holding onto bitterness was a necessary evil? Like it was the only way to protect yourself from getting hurt again? I know I have. But let me tell you, my friend, that’s a prison we don’t need to live in.

As followers of Yeshua, we’re called to forgive others as He forgives us (Ephesians 4:32). And when we do, something amazing happens – our hearts are set free from the weight of resentment and anger. We begin to see the world through new eyes, with a sense of clarity and purpose.

Let me share with you a story about a woman named Rachel, who was struggling to forgive her ex-husband for his infidelity. She felt betrayed and hurt, and couldn’t understand why God would allow such pain in her life. As we talked about forgiveness, I shared with her the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), where Yeshua says that if we don’t forgive others, He won’t forgive us either.

Rachel was taken aback by this truth, and slowly began to see the harm that holding onto resentment was causing her. She started to pray for forgiveness and understanding, and as she did, a weight lifted off her shoulders. Her heart began to heal, and she was able to move forward in her journey with Yeshua.

But forgiveness isn’t always easy. It takes time, effort, and a willingness to let go of our pride and our need to be right. As the Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind… it keeps no record of being wronged” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). When we forgive others, we’re not forgetting what happened – we’re choosing to let go of the negative emotions that are holding us back.

As we walk in Yeshua’s footsteps, let’s remember that forgiveness is a choice we make every day. We can choose to hold onto bitterness and resentment, or we can choose to release it and move forward with love and compassion. May this day be filled with opportunities to forgive others and may we be like Yeshua, who forgave those who wronged Him.

Scriptures:

• Luke 6:37
• Ephesians 4:32
• Matthew 18:21-35
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-5