Have you ever struggled with unforgiveness? If you have, you are not alone. The good news is the Lord would like to set you free today!
The Bible tells us that our enemy is very crafty, and he knows the damage unforgiveness can do in the lives of people. John 10:10 tell us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.[1] An example of this trap is Haman in the biblical book of Esther. About five hundred years before Haman was born, his ancestor King Agag was put to death by the prophet Samuel. Although our story takes place generations later, there is still a hatred for the Jews that had been passed on to Haman.
Esther 3:1Sometime later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. 2 All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect. [2] 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes. [3]
Even though 500 years had passed since Haman’s ancestor was killed, there was still a toxic grudge. The same type of thing continues to happen today. Paul had good advice in Ephesians 4: 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. What happens when the devil has a foothold? That is used for the enemy’s purpose: kill, steal, and destroy. Unfortunately, genocide continues in our world to this day. Wrongs of the past are not corrected by wrongs in the present.
The trap of unforgiveness can be from a recent event or passed from one generation to the next. No matter when the incident took place, how do I let go and forgive? Forgiving others is not always easy and to do so we often need the Lord’s help.
- The first step is realizing that God wants you to take the difficult step of forgiving is for your own good.
- Ask the Lord to help you to forgive the person who hurt you.
- Thank the Lord for forgiving you all of your sins. When we remember what we have been forgiven, it gives us perspective on forgiving others.
- The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31-32 -Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. [4]There are times that we can only forgive with the help of the Holy Spirit.
As we humble ourselves and extend forgiveness to others, God opens the way for us to seek forgiveness for our own mistakes and sins. God fully forgives all that come to Him with a humble and repentant spirit.
To hear more about the story of Esther, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-when-genocide-threatens
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.