Why We Should Forgive Others and Ourselves -

Why We Should Forgive Others and Ourselves

Forgiveness can be a hard subject and a challenging thing to do, but it is both important to talk about and offer others forgiveness. When we forgive others and ourselves, it will help our lives and our walk with the Lord.

Why Should We Forgive Others?

1. God will forgive you when you forgive others.

We see the importance of forgiving others in the Bible. One spot where God talks about forgiveness is in Matthew 6:14-15. This shows us that for our sins to be forgiven by God we must first forgive others. Do you want your sins forgiven? Well, if so, you must forgive those grudges and the hurt that others have caused you in this life. It is not going to be easy, but just because it isn’t an easy thing to do doesn’t mean it isn’t a beneficial thing to do.

2. Releases weight that is on you.

Forgiving others will free you! We do not always recognize how much we are weighed down by the pain we suffer from those who have hurt us recently or in our past. When you forgive those who have hurt you it releases weight off you and allows you to feel free. This is not your burden to carry give it to God. Let the Lord handle it and let yourself be free because when you release the weight on you then you can carry all that God wants to offer you.

3. Show God’s love to others

God has forgiven our sins. Everything we have done wrong if we ask God for forgiveness, it will be forgiven because God loves us. When you offer forgiveness to those who have hurt you it shows them the love that God has for us. The Lord has asked us to live in this world but not by the world. When you offer people in your life forgiveness that is living like God and not living like the world. Continue to do the hard things that God has asked you to do, and you will grow closer to Him.

4. People could come back into your life.

Forgiveness has brought not just one but two people back into my life. With forgiving those who have hurt me and others forgiving me I have rekindled my own relationships. One of the relationships that I rekindled was with my dad. When the Lord asked me to forgive my dad it was not easy, but I did it. Once I forgave him, I was able to see that the Lord had worked in my dad’s life and changed him.
The second relationship I was gifted after forgiveness was a best friend. When we both forgave each other for past mistakes we were able to come back into each other’s lives. By forgiving her and her forgiving me I was able to be in her wedding. This is a gift I would never been given if I wasn’t open to forgiveness. Open your heart to forgiveness and see who comes back into your life thanks to it.

5. It could change your life.

Lastly, I encourage you to forgive others because it could change your life. When I forgave others, I saw many ways that God changed my own life through it. By forgiving others it has helped strengthen my relationship with the Lord, brought people back into my life, and helped me let go of past pain. I have found freedom through forgiveness and a lighter load. I have learned how much grace and compassion that God has for His children. It could change your life as well if you take the steps to forgive.

I know forgiveness is not easy, but that does not mean you shouldn’t take the steps to forgive. Let the Lord work miracles in your life through forgiveness. Pray and ask Him to help you through the process of forgiveness because you are not doing this alone.