Forgiveness can be hard. Have you ever said (or heard someone say), “I will NEVER forgive him/her for that!”? Or, “How could I ever forgive him/her for that?” Yes, forgiveness is hard! But, when you choose to not forgive, you are disobeying a command of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). And not just “seven times in a day” (Luke 17:4), “but up to seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:22).
When you choose to not forgive, you cannot pray and ask God to forgive you of your sins. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). My sins, debts, trespasses will only be forgiven if I “forgive men their trespasses” (6:14-15). When you choose to not forgive, you will not receive mercy on the day of judgment, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy” (Jas. 2:13).
So, go ahead and hold on to that grudge! It’s yours to hold! Or, you can forgive and be forgiven and be released from the burden of that bitterness! Your choice!