12 Reasons You Should Never Forgive
You like to be stressed.
Why should you forgive when you can be tense and nervous, especially when you’re around the offending person? Long live stress!
You enjoy being unhealthy.
Forgiveness would cause you to release things like endorphins, which make you feel good and give you bursts of energy that would give you the ambition to eat well and sleep well. Who wants that?
You live to be bitter, angry and resentful.
I mean, if you forgave someone, who would you have to be bitter, angry and resentful at? Who cares what Ephesians 4:31 says, you like holding a grudge!
- Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
You like being confined.
Because when you forgive it sets you free. Why should you have peace in your mind and spirit? You’ll show them!
You enjoy being right.
They were wrong, after all! Everybody can see that! Never mind that they did what they thought was best, or had the best of intentions in their actions. They screwed up!
You delight in broken relationships.
Because if you were to forgive, you might actually have to be nice to the person who hurt you. Who wants to do that? Not me!
You like being a victim.
Because by forgiving you’re acknowledging what they did or said was ok. It’s not ok, it never will be ok, but that doesn’t matter. Poor you.
You enjoy the state of hopelessness.
Because forgiveness brings hope, healing and peace. And that might be too much for you to handle.
Obsession isn't just a Calvin Klein fragrance.
It’s what you live to think about during the day - the way they offended you like that, then acted like nothing happened. Pfffftttt. Keep obsessing, sister, they were wrong!
Heave ho, carry that load.
So, if you forgave the offender, you’d have a load off your back. A weight would be lifted. If that happened, then you might be free to run and dance, then what kind of workout would you get? Gotta keep those legs strong under that weight!
You enjoy beating yourself up.
You know you made poor choices. You know you did things that no sane person should ever forgive you for, so why should you forgive yourself? It’s better to live in depression and regret.
You like the wall you built between you and God.
Because it’s such a pretty wall! And look at all of the pretty things you decorated that wall with! Jealousy, envy, bitterness, vengeance, torn relationships, mistrust, hurt, offense - c’mon, who wouldn’t love to keep looking at that work of art?
OK, so I’m being a little snarky and sarcastic. (A gift I’ve been told I have - *ahem* - by my pastor!)
Seriously, forgiveness doesn’t mean what the offending party did is ok. It doesn’t mean you have to become BFFs. (If they are continually hurtful and offensive, you don’t even have to continue a relationship. Unless you work with them - or maybe sleep next to them - then just be nice and pray a lot.)
Forgiveness, if nothing else, keeps your relationship with God clear, open and honest.
Matthew 6:14-15 tells us that if we don’t forgive others God can’t forgive us. Wow. That sounds a little harsh, but God knows what is best for us and we need to trust Him to take care of discipline issues for the offender.
And remember, sometimes you’re the offender too. (Whoops!)
Is there someone you need to forgive? Do you need to forgive yourself? Don’t wait. Do it today! I promise you’ll be glad you did.
Care to share about it? I’m all ears. (Or eyes, really, because I’ll read your testimony!) Comment below, email me, or share via Twitter and Facebook.
