Stuck in a rut
If I could re-write the Bible, there’d be one scripture I would most certainly leave out: Matthew 6:14–15
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”
Ever hated someone so much that it hurt?
To the point where imagining hurtful things happening to them becomes some sort of dark comfort? Replaying them getting crushed in an airplane crash becomes a dull comfort?
I’ve been there, still kinda there, tryna find my way out too.
At the start of the year, I asked God, “What do I need to deal with to have a successful 2024?”
I was expecting God to point at the usual culprits: Discipline. Prayer. Godly friendships.
But alas, it was none of those. Instead, it was HATRED.
Letting go of hatred is probably one of the toughest things a Christian needs to do. I don’t care how much you pray, how much you preach, how much you read the bible, forgiving is TOUGH.
If you’re reading this and you’re struggling with the same, I don’t think I have sufficient words to encourage you. I won’t be foolish enough to say I can relate. Every hurt is unique.
I can’t even promise that the object of your hatred will ever change and mend their ways.
What I do know is there’s a decision we must make.
We either trade in an eternity with God for the temporary comfort of holding on to our animosity.
We either deliver our tit-for-tat judgement now or defer to God to do the judging at His own time.
The choice is yours, and choose, you must.
I sincerely hope your love for God outweighs your hatred because Hell is tooooooooo long to be wrong.
Matthew 5:7 — “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”
Is hating this person worth forfeiting worth God’s blessings and mercy?
Maybe you need to carve out time in your schedule, say tomorrow, next tomorrow?
Find time to disconnect from everything: Instagram, work emails, iMessages, and plug in to deep worship music and meditate on this scripture.
I pray God gives you the strength to do what is necessary.
Don’t wanna do it alone? That’s fine. Let’s study the Bible together — click here to schedule a personal bible study.
