Do you know anything harder to do than to forgive those who have hurt you? It is a lot easier just to stay mad with people than it is to forgive people. But according to the Bible, forgiveness is not optional. Write this down: you cannot be right with God and still be wrong with people around you. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we don’t pray ‘forgive our sins and please God, forgive the sins of those around us.’ We say, “Forgive our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.” That is the equation.
Matthew 6: 14-15 says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you.” It is clear. You cannot get right with God and still be wrong with people around you. That is a hard teaching, and forgiveness is hard. It is not easy, but it is not optional. God doesn’t ask you to do something that He will not give you the strength to do. When you have been terribly wounded and betrayed, you have two choices: you can either rehearse it, or you can release it. To rehearse it is to collect grievances, stew over it, drive it deeper, and perpetuate the pain. Release it; be a forgiver, for that is the pathway to peace with yourself and peace with God.
– Dr. Tim Thompson