Matthew 18: 21-22 – “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Has a family member, friend, co-worker or stranger offended you or did something wrong to hurt you? There are many variations of ways that people hurt others. Sometimes the person does it intentionally and other times it’s by accident.

Today, let’s focus on family members, friends, and co-workers. For example, the holiday season just ended and surely one of your relatives said or did the wrong thing during your holiday gatherings that offended you or hurt you. You might not want to forgive the person because what they did was intentional and just plain awful. Your emotions and reaction to the situation are most likely still on high.

Let’s take a moment to take a deep breath and get a clear picture of the situation. Try to understand the person that hurt you. Look at their life, try to find the motivation behind their actions. Most of the time it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.

For example, an insecure family member, friend or co-worker can place their focus on bringing others around them down to their level of insecurity. They often do this by saying things to others that embarrass you or hurt you. Some people can become so insecure that they plan elaborate situations just to make everyone around them feel just as miserable as they are feeling.

Matthew 6:14-15 – “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.”

 

As a Christian, you are encouraged to forgive those who sin against you. Taking the time to understand the person who hurt you will help you gain perspective on the situation. Soon, you will realize the issue didn’t have anything to do with you. In this case, it will be a waste of time and energy to walk around angry at this person. A clear perspective will also make it easier to forgive them for what they did.

It’s not always easy to forgive others when they have intentionally hurt you so deeply. The good news is, as a Christian, you have resources that will help guide you to forgiveness. If you are having a difficult time forgiving others refer to your bible and seek a meaningful conversation with a fellow Christian.