Bitterness
“I firmly believe a great many prayers are not answered because we are not willing to forgive someone.” ~ D.L. Moody
The above quote goes along with some thoughts I’ve been “chewing on” in recent days.
I wonder how many times, as Christians, we have been at least partly responsible for an individual’s lost or backslidden condition…simply because we absolutely refused to forgive the individual for a wrongdoing? Unforgiveness is sin and many of us are very familiar with the verse, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalm 66:18 If the individual we refuse to forgive is lost or backslidden, how can we pray for them? Not only that, how can we even hope to influence their lives if we have bitterness toward them?
Maybe someone is reading this right now and the hurt you have experienced is so very deep that you really don’t care about that individual’s eternal destiny. I know that may sound unimaginable to some, but I also know that some have experienced horrific wounds and injustices that they truly cannot see themselves ever being able to forgive. If that is you, what about other loved ones for whom you are praying? If we are harboring bitterness in our hearts toward an individual, how can we pray for others?
Over the years, I have witnessed or been made aware of the emotional wounds of family and friends – wounds of varying degrees – wounds inflicted by strangers, acquaintances, friends, and even family. And, over the years I have witnessed two responses – forgiveness and abundant grace or unforgiveness and bitterness. In those who chose forgiveness, I have seen their joy eventually return. To those who chose not to forgive, I have seen a gradual, deepening root of bitterness that not only affected their countenance but dominated their conversation and, very sadly, spread to their children.
My friend, I would never pretend to know what it is like to experience what you have experienced. But, when I think of examples that God’s Word has given us, such as Joseph, Stephen, and most of all our Saviour, I am reminded that if our heart’s desire is to forgive, then His grace will always be sufficient.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” II Corinthians 12:9