Forgiving gets harder when…
Why is it hard to forgive? Are you struggling with forgiving anyone in your life? When we don't forgive, we remain in unbelief.
Some reasons why forgiving others becomes harder.
We get offended
Holding on to past incidents
Persistent sins
Do you get offended easily? Then you lack humility. Being offended leads to bitterness, followed by hatred, and eventually violence.
Jesus never got offended. Why not? He was full of love for everyone. The humility of Jesus holds the greatest love. We need to learn from Jesus (Matthew 11:29).
Some people are unable to get over whatever past encounters they've had with the ones who've offended them. I'm not even talking about physical incidents, but rudeness or insults. Words spoken years ago have dug so deep that they let it fester and stay vengeful. Peter denied Jesus thrice despite all that Jesus did for him. Yet, Jesus died for him on the cross.
Is there a secret sin persisting in your life? Then self-condemnation and victimization will keep you in a spiritual struggle weighing you down from living freely. Judas, Demas, and those who fall away let sinful lusts linger, taking it casually instead of repenting.
Humility trumps every lingering struggle through the power of the Holy Spirit. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. The day of Christ is here.
Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen!