5 Reasons to Forgive When You Can't Forget

As Christians, we know that the benchmark of our faith is the ability to forgive others when they have wronged us. But that's easier said than done. Due to the nature of the offense, it can take months or even years to forgive someone. Forgiveness is a process. However, it is necessary that we go through the process of forgiveness even when we cannot forget what someone has done to us, or that they do not regret. Why should we forgive someone when we're afraid they'll do it again?

Here are five reasons to forgive when you can't forget:

1. God calls us to forgive

Throughout Scripture, God calls us to forgive others. We are called to forgive someone repeatedly, even if they commit the same offense. Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive others when they have sinned against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your father will not forgive you your sins. God will not forgive us if we do not forgive others. This is one of the only commands that comes with this promise."

God chooses to forgive us no matter how bad our offense is and chooses not to remember it anymore. He gives us the chance to come to him and experience the freedom that Christ's death on the cross has given us. Because we have been forgiven, it is our duty to forgive others, even if our offense is not as serious as someone else's. Going through the process of forgiveness means we believe in God. When we forgive others, we are fulfilling God's call to forgive others.

2. It sets us free

People often believe that forgiveness is about the other person. They believe that if we forgive them, we let them off the hook for their offense. On the contrary, however, forgiveness concerns us more than the other person. Forgiving others frees us from the emotional bondage that unforgiveness has on our hearts. When we forgive, we feel lighter and freer. We can best show love to others when we have forgiven them.

If you're having trouble forgiving someone, start with prayer. Declare to God that you are choosing to forgive a person and specifically name the offense. Tell God that you choose to forgive, even if you don't feel like it. God knows our hearts. He knows when we were doing something voluntarily and when we were just doing it by calling. But God honors us when we choose to forgive, even if it is only God's call to forgive. Forgiveness puts us on the path to healthy relationships. If the relationship is strained due to unforgiveness, our ability to forgive can help the reconciliation process. Although the relationship will never be the same as before, we can do our part to live in peace with everyone. Mental health issues are on the rise. This is partly due to the unforgiveness we carry in our hearts because we will not confess the sin that weighs it down. By making ourselves clean before God, and then choosing to make others clean before Him, we experience emotional freedom like never before.

3. It demonstrates God's love

John 15:13 says, "Love has no greater love than this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ, who had no sin, chose to take on the sins of the world so we could all experience freedom. When we don't forgive others, it's like saying that Christ's death was for naught and that there are offenses that don't deserve to be forgiven. When we imply that, we imply that Christ's death was meaningless and that Christ did not know what he was doing when he died on the cross. Although forgiving someone may bring up past pain, it is better to deal with it effectively. It is not good to stuff our feelings or deny that the problem exists. Rather, we demonstrate God's unconditional love for others when we forgive the people in our lives. When we do this, we demonstrate that God loves us too, and we believe in him and in the power of Christ's sacrifice.

4. We demonstrate the fruits of the spirit

Galatians 5:22 gives us an understanding of what the Fruits of the Spirit are: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness and selfishness. -control." Forgiveness helps us recognize that we have the Holy Spirit living in us. When we forgive, we cultivate these fruits in our lives. Forgiveness demonstrates these fruits because we demonstrate love, peace, gentleness, and kindness in ways that unforgiveness cannot. When we forgive, we open the way for the Holy Spirit to work more effectively in our lives. When left unchecked, unforgiveness can hamper our relationship with the Human...