The Bible is very clear that we are not to hold grudges. In Eph. 4:26 it states: And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry . . . I’ve never regretted obeying this verse and innumerable times have deeply regretted ignoring it as I clenched and re-clenched my teeth throughout the night angrily reliving wrongs perpetuated against me time after time to the point of needing aspirin and Tums.
Listen to what God says just a little further into this book: Eph. 4:31 – Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Oh boy, now that is a tough one; especially after that “so and so said so and so about me behind my back”, or “that so and so cheated me out of my hard-earned money”. Or “that so and so didn’t help at all and I had to do all their work”, or whatever.
You know what is tougher than all those grievous offenses? Grieving the Holy Spirit!
I don’t want to go there.
Someone has wisely stated that “We never get even by trying to get even”. God wants us to forgive others their injustices and put away all those bad feelings towards each other. I have forgiven several people that were not deserving of it. They wronged me and never once apologized or showed any sign of remorse. When I forgave them, they acted as though I had lost my mind and pointedly asked, “What the heck I was talking about.
It didn’t bother me. I just smiled in knowing that my forgiveness of them was really more about me than them, and by doing so I was the one relieved of the angst I felt over the situation, (and as a bonus I saved money on aspirin and Tums).
I always try to keep on the top of my mind in these situations that God forgave me even when I didn’t deserve it and He demands the same of us. The bottom line is: Just put it to rest and give it a rest already. Life is too short.
Psalm 37:8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.