Forgiveness is not any easy choice, but we all make mistakes and need forgiveness at some point, so it makes sense we should forgive others too. Sometimes it takes time to fully forgive someone. Sometimes we need to forgive numerous times whether it’s over the one incident or multiple incidents.

Unforgiveness can tear apart families, friendships, relationships, work environments, and communities. Learning to forgive and let go of hurt and pain can help everyone move forward and help us as individuals to live a life free from bitterness, resentment, and some ongoing unnecessary pain. This doesn’t mean we validate people who wrong us, and sometimes things need to be dealt with directly and promptly, and sometimes with justice under state or federal law. But if we hang on to unforgiveness, it can brew into all sorts of trouble and manifest in different ways in future, including anger or deep sorrow. It can also have other negative impacts on our health and wellness.

For some people, it’s harder to forgive ourselves than to forgive others.

For me, taking it to the Lord in prayer and confiding in someone trustworthy is crucial to be able to live without bitterness and resentment brewing from not forgiving others, or any self-loathing from not forgiving myself. I know I have made some bad choices in my life and believe God has forgiven me, so I want to extend that forgiveness to others and to be able to forgive myself. How about you? Obviously, we also need to sometimes ask for forgiveness from others too, acknowledging that we have wronged them, or at least understanding that we have done something that deeply upset them and show compassion by empathizing with them. Sometimes we are oblivious to when we have wronged someone. Jesus said while being nailed to the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”, I can’t imagine a greater act of forgiveness, agape love, and mercy in his willing sacrifice, even for some of those who crucified him not knowing what they were really doing!

Something else to consider is – an eye for an eye makes the world go blind, we all need mercy, grace, and forgiveness at times, no matter how good and kind any of us might think we are.