Unforgiveness is one of the most powerful weapons in Satan’s arsenal. He will make us think that we have the power over a situation or a person if we do not forgive, while we are actually being eaten alive by hate and anger on the inside. We may believe that we are making the other person suffer when we don’t forgive them, or even that they don’t deserve our forgiveness. However, we are the ones who suffer more in the end no matter how much pain the other person has previously caused us. Holding on to unforgiveness and offense could have an eternal impact.
For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses. Matthew 6:14-15
That is difficult to process. So if someone has hurt me a lot which has caused a great negative impact on my life then I should just forgive them? That doesn’t seem simple or even right. Where is the justice in that? It seems I am making myself their victim if I forgive them for all the pain they have made me experience. Why should I let them go free? Why not let them feel the same pain they have made me feel? Why not make them ashamed of all they have done to me? Well, I found out a few years ago after telling someone about how their actions had caused me emotional injury that they really did not care and laughed in response to all I said. The fact is many people don’t know and don’t care that they have caused hurt as they are very comfortable with their actions, no matter how injurious it may seem to us. Then there are those who will pretend like nothing ever happened and expect us to just move on with our lives without a word of apology. I have come to realize that if I choose not to forgive these persons they still go on with their happy lives and I become more of a victim to them and their actions. I lose my sleep thinking of the wrongs they have done to me over and over again, and I may even become physically ill because of my anger and hurt.
On the Johns Hopkins Medicine’s website there is an article titled “Forgiveness: Your Health Depends on it”. It goes on to state that “Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health.”
The Heavenly Father loves us, and He created us, so He understands our body and its reactions to certain emotions. Many of the illnesses we experience may be a result of us internalizing anger because of what someone has done to us. Our unforgiveness creates an avalanche that is destructive to our minds, our spirits, and our bodies. Our behavior also may be influenced by our lack of unforgiveness, which leaves an open door for Satan to rampage our lives.
But one whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
Satan gains power over us through unforgiveness, so he will whisper in our ears, “Don’t forgive or else you will give them power over your life.” When in fact you are relinquishing power to this father of lies if you listen to him. He relishes in ruined relationships and ransacked lives, so we must be sure not to be ignorant of his schemes when he uses unforgiveness as a strategic weapon in his artillery. However, God has given us our own artillery to combat the devil.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14
Love is God’s powerful strategy against Satan, who wants to bring division in our relationships, our homes, our churches, our communities and our countries. When we are united in Christ, Satan loses his foothold in our lives, so he wants to keep us offended and living with unforgiveness in our hearts, which hardens our hearts to those around us and even to the Lord. Jesus knew this and that is why He gave us certain commands.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. Luke 6:27-28
This would seem antithetical to the world’s advice, but we are not of this world. God’s principles are different, and we must also remember we are in spiritual warfare, that cannot be fought physically or through our nature. So, let us choose love over unforgiveness and offense. It is difficult to do this in our own strength, but thankfully, we have been given power to do this through the Holy Spirit.
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