Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
Is it okay to not forgive someone who hurt me deeply?
Answer:
As a pastor and a husband, I have seen many people struggle with forgiveness. I believe that forgiveness is a process, not a one-time event. It's okay to not forgive someone who hurt me deeply, but it's not okay to hold onto that hurt and let it consume me. When we choose not to forgive, we are not forgiving the person, we are forgiving ourselves of the pain they caused. We are choosing to let go of the anger and resentment that is eating away at us. The passage says that forgiveness does not mean forgetting, but it does mean not holding a person's sin against them. When we forgive someone, we are not saying that what they did was okay, but rather that we are choosing to release them from the power they had over us. It's a liberating experience, but it takes humility and a willingness to let go of our pride and ego. As a Christian, I believe that forgiveness is not just a moral virtue, but a spiritual necessity. Jesus taught us to forgive others as we would have them forgive us. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus says, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." This is not a conditional forgiveness, but a relational one. When we forgive others, we are not just forgiving them, we are also forgiving ourselves and our circumstances. We are choosing to walk in freedom and release the burden of unforgiveness that can weigh us down.
Sources:
meaning of marriage
timothy keller
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
raising kids to follow christ
lee ann mancini
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
raising passionate jesus followers
phil diane comer
power of a praying parent
stormie omartian
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