Everyone gets hurt at one point or another, and to be sure, you and I have hurt plenty of people too. It’s just part of living in a fallen, sinful world. People say hurtful words, either thoughtlessly or deliberately. They abuse others, embarrass them, treat them unfairly, and may even inflict physical harm. There’s no way to avoid all possible hurts, but God wants us to respond to them in ways that honor Him, bring healing, and free us from anger, resentment, bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit.
This is a load God doesn’t want us to bear, and He’s provided the solution in Ephesians 4:30-32 that says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All resentment, bitterness, anger, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
God commands us to forgive one another. This doesn’t mean forgetting, denying, excusing, or tolerating mistreatment. It means putting aside the debt and no longer holding it against the offender. There’s no guarantee that everything will be right in the relationship. We’re not responsible for the other person’s actions. Our responsibility is to obey God by forgiving.
