Daily Delight
Can I tell you something? Refusing to forgive someone for something they have done to you does not hurt that person. They don’t feel your unforgiveness. They don’t feel your rage. They don’t feel your bitterness. They don’t feel your pain. Only you do. So why do you continue to harbor unforgiveness in your heart?I love the visual the Holy Spirit gave me in a dream about unforgiveness. Envision unforgiveness as a 6-inch long by 3-inch wide nail. When you hold on to unforgiveness, you are clenching that nail in your palm. When you clench your fist in all your anger, bitterness, and resentment, you drive that nail into your palm. The longer you hold it, the deeper it goes and the more it hurts until it has pierced so deeply that it has completely broken the skin.Satan uses unforgiveness to trick us into staying bound. We remain emotionally attached to the offense while the offender moves on. The enemy keeps us focused on the fact that the other person doesn’t deserve our forgiveness. Well, guess what? We don’t deserve forgiveness either, yet God offers it freely unto us without question or hesitation.“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9 (ESV)Are we any better than God that we can refuse to forgive someone else? Absolutely not! As God freely offers forgiveness to us, the undeserving, we too must give others the same gift as reflections of our Heavenly Father’s love. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV).”It’s only when we open our hand and drop the nail (the offense), that the wound can be cleaned out and healed by God. So make forgiveness your aim for your sanity and your peace of mind. Forgiveness does not mean that what they did is okay, but it does mean that what they did will not control or define you any longer.
About the Author
Diamond Lepre
Diamond is an avid writer and a spiritual mentor. After overcoming traumas like domestic violence and sexual assault, Diamond became an advocate for women pursuing mental and emotional healing. Her mentorship program, HEAL Quest Mentorship, was birthed out of her own journey with God towards wholeness.
When Diamond isn’t busy homeschooling her amazing 6-year old son or mentoring women, you can find her writing articles as a Staff Writer for Christian EnVogue Magazine, where she uses her talent of writing and spiritual gift of teaching to help women strengthen their walk with God and navigate everyday hardships they may face.
You can follow her on Instagram here or connect with her on her website and read her latest blog posts here.