Forgive Them Too??Sample

If I can be totally honest with you, there was a situation where I realized I was holding onto unforgiveness, not because of something that happened to me personally, but because of something done to someone I deeply loved. It was a situation where I saw a loved one emotionally hurting another close to me, and it left me feeling angry and upset on their behalf.

The pain wasn't even directed toward me, but I couldn't help carrying the offense. I struggled with this because it didn't feel like my battle to fight, but I was still wrestling with it. God had to reveal to me that carrying that offense was keeping me in bondage.

It wasn't easy to let it go, but letting go of the hurt was the only way to find peace and be set free. That's when I realized how deep a hidden layer of unforgiveness could become, and I had to repent. I had to assess my heart and ask the Lord to remove anything in me that was not like Him.

The truth is, forgiveness isn't just for you—it's freedom for them, too. The people who hurt the ones we love might never say sorry. They might never even acknowledge what they did. But when we choose to let it go, we release the chain that's been linking us to this sin of offense.

Romans 12:19 reminds us, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." God knows how to deal with what was done. You're not excusing it—you are releasing it so it no longer has authority over your emotions, your prayers, or your calling.

Once we recognize this hidden unforgiveness, how do we release it? This process isn't complicated, though it does require intentionality. First, recognize what offense you're currently carrying and deliberately surrender it. This step requires honest self-assessment. Second, dedicate yourself to meeting with God consistently and doing a heart check. Third, learn to pray for those who have hurt your loved ones.

I think of David's prayer in Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." This needs to be our heart's cry as we go deeper into that second layer of unforgiveness and ask God to forgive us for carrying it.

What burdens of unforgiveness do you need to surrender to God today? How might your life change once you've released them?

Final Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us what true forgiveness looks like through Your Son. Forgive me for the times I've held onto offenses that weren't mine to carry. Help me recognize when I'm harboring unforgiveness on behalf of others, and give me the courage to release it to You. Cleanse my heart of any hidden unforgiveness that clouds my discernment. I want to be someone who extends the same grace to others that you've extended to me. In Jesus' name, amen.

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