Are you breaking your own heart?

• By candidasullivan
• April 17, 2024
• No Comments

Withholding forgiveness and love, holding grudges, and judging others hurts me. It’s like breaking my own heart over and over. 

Sometimes, I get so focused on what others do to hurt me that I don’t realize that I’m giving it even more power by focusing on it. And that hurts me even more. 

The circumstance is neutral. It’s my thoughts, feelings, and actions that cause me pain. If only I would learn to run to God with anything that upsets me. The sooner I talk it over with God, the sooner I can gain His perspective, forgive, and let go. 

The Bible tells us to be angry but sin not. But I do. Sometimes, I hold onto the pain like a badge of honor and let it fester and grow inside of me. I forget in my anger and pain that unforgiveness is a sin. Holding onto hurt feelings and allowing them to harden my heart is wrong. Judging others hurts me more than the person I’m judging. 

Jesus gave us an excellent example of forgiveness. 

Luke 23:34 KJV

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

We have a real enemy. Satan is seeking for people to devour. He wants to cause as much pain as possible. Sometimes, people don’t realize he is using them to hurt others. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a victim of his attacks and schemes many times. I have hurt others intensely, but at the time, I didn’t realize what I was doing. I didn’t know that Satan was using me to hurt God’s child. And when I realized what I had done, I was so grateful for the power of forgiveness. 

I’m so thankful Jesus forgives me when I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m so grateful that forgiveness is a two-way street. Jesus can help me forgive those who have hurt me and forgive me for withholding forgiveness, love, and judging others. 

Nothing is more important to me than my relationship with God. I don’t want anything in my way as I worship and serve my Lord. I also don’t want to carry the heavy weight of judgment, unforgiveness, and disgust in my heart. 

When I first ask God to forgive me for my wrongdoings, I can more easily forgive the sins of others. 

Sometimes, God changes our situation, and sometimes, He changes us. I’m so thankful God doesn’t leave me in pain. He comes to me, shows me my faults and failures, and helps me overcome them. 

My job is not to punish or judge others. God commanded me to love Him and others wholeheartedly. The tricky part is that that commandment has no stipulations. It doesn’t tell me I can hate others if they do this or that. It doesn’t tell me I’m justified in my unforgiveness if it hurts me deeply.

God sees it all. Instead of trying to control things and fix situations, I should take everything to Jesus and leave it there. If I give Him my negative thoughts, hurt feelings, and judgments, He will give me His peace, love, and joy. And that’s what my soul desires the most. 

God blesses us for the obedience of forgiveness. I know how hard it can be. Honestly, this post was for me because I needed to remember these truths and work through my own forgiveness. Forgiveness is powerful, sweet friends!