Choosing to Forgive

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15

Very often people can be disappointing. We are wronged by others as we walk through life just like we offend others. I am not minimizing the hurt that people can do; I have experienced it firsthand and I realize that forgiving can be a very hard thing to do. But no matter how badly hurt we feel, we must find a way to forgive. Forgiveness is not a feeling that comes naturally; it takes the help of the Holy Spirit. When we are slighted, we must make a conscious choice to forgive regardless of how we feel. Deciding on whether to forgive or not based on how we feel should never be an option as feelings are very unreliable. God commands us to forgive just as He forgave us. Choosing to forgive everyone, everything and every time is an instruction from God that we must follow.