Why You Should Forgive

We are told to forgive those who hurt us, but have you ever considered why we are told this? Like me, you may have grown up thinking it’s just another rule we should follow as Christians. You might have thought that forgiveness could lead to mending that relationship or that even forgiveness is for your benefit so that you can move forward in your life.

While all of these are somewhat true, the real reason is given to us in 2 Corinthians 2:11. If we do not forgive others, we let Satan use this unforgiveness to attack us.

My husband inherited a team that was full of behavioral issues. He quickly made many players angry because he changed the rules. A few players felt wronged and betrayed because their playing time was getting cut due to their behavior. They had a choice: would they continue to let the anger build toward their coach for these new rules, or would they forgive him and see the good that would come from the changes? The few who did except the changes started to thrive. Those who continued to harbor hate in their hearts quickly found that things kept getting worse for them, not just in their sport but their whole life.

Satan will use any stronghold you have to ruin it completely. Hatred and unforgiveness are easy ways for Satan to get his claws into your life and wreak havoc in every area. Whether you have been wronged or carry anger toward someone, the reason to forgive is so Satan cannot use it against you.