Pain is something we all have in our lives. We have all been hurt and we all try to escape it. But avoiding, ignoring, overcompensating, deflecting and straight out running in the other direction regardless of what that is doesn’t remove the pain. It only distracts or numbs.
But what if instead of holding onto that pain we could be free from it.
Forgiveness is powerful and it frees us from pain.
Many see forgiveness as excusing the one who hurt us or saying it’s ok. But it’s not. Forgiving someone does that make what they did right. But it does free us from letting that pain control us.
Holding on to the pain of the past gives that pain power over us. We give it the power to influence our decisions. We let pain control our actions. Keeping us from things because we are afraid to face the pain.
Holding onto our pain instead of forgiving really controls us, not the other person.
But we can make the decision to stop letting that pain rule us and surrender it over to Jesus. He came to free us from our pain and free us from allowing unforgiveness to control us.
Stop letting your past determine your future and let go of the pain.
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'” Luke 23:34
Holding on to resentments definitely keeps the pain going for us. Leave it to God to do the judging, and let the hurt go.