Dear Unforgiveness

Dear Unforgiveness,

I nurtured you after someone hurt me. You grew in the soil of my misery, and I watered you each day with anger and frustration. Like ice, you crept into my heart, teaching me to shut people out, afraid of future disappointments. You are a storm twisting within, causing confusion. Like fire, you flare up and draw pictures of those I have failed to forgive. The thoughts of them spiral inside me, like a movie, re-enacting the scenes over and over again.

The problem is, you are wounding me. The rage that prowls inside and the sadness that creeps in—they warn me I cannot carry on like this.

But you are impossible to give up. I know the only way to conquer this is to open up my heart to God and release you, trusting Him to take care of all my hurts. I am praying to Jesus, asking Him to melt the bitterness and heal me—praying I will rest in the grace He’s given me and extend that grace to others.

Now, it is time to say goodbye to you. Unforgiveness, I am letting you go. In Christ, I’m finally breaking free. • Cindy Lee

• Forgiving someone who has hurt you is a challenging process, and it doesn’t always mean trusting the other person, especially in a dangerous situation. If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit is with you and will empower you day by day to forgive. If you’re struggling with forgiveness, who is a trusted Christian—such as a parent, pastor, or counselor—you can talk with about it?

• What emotions does unforgiveness cause in your life? Write them down and talk to Jesus about them. Ask Him to heal you, to fill you with His love for people, and to deepen your trust in His promises to bring justice for every wrongdoing—whether at the cross or on the Judgment Day (Luke 23:32-35; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Matthew 18:21-22; Colossians 3:13