It has been said often that refusing to forgive someone is like drinking poison and hoping that your enemy dies. In many ways, this is true. Unforgiveness is often far more damaging to the one holding on to it than to the one who has committed the offense.
God knows that, and He doesn’t want this for us. That’s why the Bible speaks so strongly about the failure to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV) goes so far as to say, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Jesus reminded us of this when he told the parable of the unforgiving servant. The servant is forgiven a huge debt by his master, but rather than being grateful and extending that grace and mercy to others, he demands the repayment of a tiny debt from someone else and has that person throw into jail when he can’t pay. The lesson in this story is that, as believers, we have been forgiven a debt that was so huge we could never have repaid it on our own. In turn, we must extend forgiveness of debts—miniscule in comparison—to others out of gratitude and in worship to God. As C.S. Lewis put it, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
Forgiveness is inextricably entwined with our salvation as well as how we live out our faith in our interactions with others.
In my upcoming supernatural suspense novel, The Watcher, Kathryn Ellison struggles to forgive the heinous and unimaginable crime committed against her. The novel is populated with otherworldly beings such as Faith, Hope, Doubt, Fear, and Grace. As the narrator of the story, or The Watcher, notes, “Forgiveness might be high-maintenance and demanding, but never without a reason. She knows the weight of unforgiveness is staggering and desperately wants to see every one of you give it up. Only then can Peace move in and take up permanent residence. You have to appreciate her motives, even if what she asks of you seems more than you can hope to accomplish on your own.”
Which, of course, it is.
Some offences cannot be forgiven without God’s help, but He is always willing to offer that help when asked because of His great love for us. As Kathryn continues to struggle to let go of her bitterness, she has the following conversation with God:
Did that mean she had to forgive him?
Yes, because I have.
Clenched fists grasped the blanket at her sides. No. I can’t do it. It’s too much to ask. You know what they did to me.
A soft whisper in the dark brought tears dashing across Kathryn’s face.
And you know what they did to me.
All the fight went out of her. Flinging an arm across her eyes, she lifted her free hand, palm up in a gesture of surrender. I’ll try. For you.
The voice was unbearably tender. It’s for you.
Forgiving others frees us. It lifts the heavy burden from our shoulders that God never intended and doesn’t want us to carry. My prayer for all of you today, dear readers, is that, if you are holding on to unforgiveness toward another person who has wronged you, that you would allow God to help you to lay down that burden today. And when you do, may any anger and bitterness be swept away and replaced with His peace—a peace that passes all understanding.
Sara Davison is the author of three romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, and The Rose Tattoo Trilogy. She has been a finalist for ten national writing awards, including Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, a Selah, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a Word and Cascade Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children. The words on the mug she uses every morning pretty much sum up her life—I just want to sleep, drink coffee, and make stuff up. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.
Someone or something is watching Kathryn Ellison.
Kathryn thought she had buried memories of That Night for good—until Nick Lawson returns, reigniting her long-suppressed feelings for him. Seeing Nick has always reminded her too much of the horrible night that changed her life. As much as she wants to be with him, she wants even more to forget. When Nick unexpectedly shows up at her family ranch, Kathryn knows it is finally time to let go of the traumatic past that has held her captive for so long.
David Henley is a captive too—of the dark secret involving Kathryn, a secret he’s kept even from his wife. Now the truth is about to be revealed. And when it is, he could be stripped of everything in his life that matters to him.
A storm is brewing in the spiritual realm, and its effects reverberate through the natural world, summoning otherworldly Beings to the ranch. While Kathryn confronts the memories of That Night and struggles to let them go, she is not as alone in her home as she thinks.
As spiritual and temporal forces collide, Kathryn—and everyone she loves—is about to be caught in the crossfire.
