Having trouble forgiving?

We've all been hurt. None of us make through life without someone stepping on our toes or knocking the wind out our sails.

It might be an unkind word that someone said.

It might be a parent who abandoned you.

It might be getting a cold shoulder from someone at church.

It might be a spouse who was unfaithful.

It might be a husband who didn't get the hint that you wanted to go on a date with him.

It might be a child who has turned his back on his family.

In any case, God calls us to forgive.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you" (Eph 4:32).

The Bible is a book about forgiveness.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

God is willing to forgive you for every sin that you have ever committed, or even thought about committing. He is able to forgive you, because His Son, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for all of your sins on the cross.

"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Col 2:13-14).

God has forgiven you for all of your sins.

Every lie. Every bad thought. Every hateful word. Every lustful glance. Murder. Adultery. Robbery. Incest. Cheating.

No matter what it was, God is ready to forgive you. Even if no one else knows about it.

So why is it hard for you to forgive others?

Could it be that you haven't experienced God's forgiveness?

God paid the complete price to pay the penalty for all of your sins. He forgives you completely. And commands you to do the same.

"...forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."

If you're having trouble forgiving someone, maybe it's because you haven't experienced God's forgiveness.

If you're holding a grudge against someone, if you're bitter, if you're angry - whatever the evidences of your unforgiving spirit may be - perhaps you need to trust God that He has forgiven all of your sins.

Then you'll be able to forgive others even as God has forgiven you.