Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved - compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another. If one has a complaint against another, forgive each other. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13
Removing Grudges
"The longer we carry a grudge, the heavier it becomes."
A grudge works like a weight at a tractor pull.
As the tractor moves down the track, the weight continues to roll forwards toward the tractor. Eventually will cause the tractor to grind to a halt.
Did the weight increase?
No, but it did continue to move into a position of greater force.
That is what happens when we try to carry a grudge.
Over time, it will move and have tremendous downward pressure on our spiritual life.
Slowly and imperceptibly, the resentment grinds us to a spiritual, emotional, and relational halt.
The halt happens not only in one area of our life but in its entirety.
The Antidote is Forgiveness
Forgiveness does for our soul what unhitching the trailer does for the tractor.
How do you unhitch the trailer with so much weight on it?
Given the downward force from the grudge, you won't be able to do this by yourself.
You can only move into a position where you ask for help.
You must be willing to forgive, and God Himself will provide the power through His grace, which allows you to do so.
Once you forgive, you'll be free to move forward with the everyday loads of life God purposed you to carry, not the ones you aren’t designed to bear.
Simple question: Who do you need to forgive?
Lord, may we be willing for You to move through us to forgive others as You have forgiven us. We ask You to unhitch our trailers in Your strength. Amen