The Trap of Unforgiveness
There are many times I feel entirely justified in my unforgiveness.
Like a stubborn toddler, I cross my arms, turn up my nose, and stand firmly in my refusal to give mercy with an emphatic and resolute "I DON'T WANNA!"
I mean, come on, if I told you all the gruesome details of what they did, you wouldn't forgive them either. It was awful and unpardonable. Why the heck should I even consider forgiving them?
I'll tell you why.
Unforgiveness is a foothold trap. It's the sneakiest type of snare Satan sets for us.
As we recount our offense, His dark whispers fill our thoughts, assuring us that we are right and they are wrong.
"You are good; they are bad. Holding them accountable and forever frozen in unforgiveness is what they deserve. What terrible, awful, evil people they are. Shame on them. They made their bed; now they can lie in it."
"Yeah, it serves them right," you emphatically agree as the evil whispers get louder in your mind.
You are hooked by anger and retribution as you continue to chant the story over and over.
SNAP!
You are caught.
YOU are caught.
You're right where he wants you.
Imagine this scene with me:
Picture all of us stuck in our snares as we sit in the dirt and muck on our journey together. Our wounds become infected as the trap set for us sinks into our flesh. We feel sick from the pain. We look around at each other, growl, and hiss as we blame others for our entrapment.
Darkness surrounds us, and hopelessness sets in as we wonder if we will ever be set free.
Just then, Jesus approaches us, and the darkness flees.
He leans down, sits with us, and lovingly whispers, "Forgiveness and mercy are the only way to freedom."
We look up and see our offenders sitting across the way, trapped in their snare of unforgiveness. All of us, victims and villains alike, are trapped.
Satan has us all imprisoned, my friend. Ain't nothing good coming from this, don't you see?
Jesus carefully lays his hand on our trap, and we are free. Our wounds disappear, and we have the strength to stand.
Slowly, we walk over to them. The ones we have held captive for so very long. The anger and the pain disappear as we give the same love and compassion Jesus showed us.
Tears of mercy stream down our faces as we lean down and loosen the grip of unforgiveness. "I forgive you." All around us, we hear those precious words echoing as the traps are released.
Take that, Satan. You will hold us captive NO MORE!
2 Corinthians 2: 10-11
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
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.
Luke 17: 1-4
Jesus said to His disciples, "Stumbling blocks [temptations and traps set to lure one to sin] are sure to come, but woe (judgment is coming) to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith].
Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]!
If your brother sins and disregards God's precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him.
Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled]."