Topic: You Have to Let It Go [RICK WARREN Devotional 3 August 2023]
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You Have to Let It Go
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
You’ve heard it before—and maybe experienced yourself—that opposites attract. When you’re single and see somebody that’s not like you, it’s fascinating. You find their characteristics and personality traits that are not like yours exciting and attractive. Then you get in a relationship or you get married, and a year later, all those exciting traits suddenly turn annoying. What once attracted you now makes you want to attack them! Unrealistic expectations in relationships set us up for resentment.
Often it’s not the big things in life that make us resentful. A lot of little things can start to pile up. The irritations turn into resentment, and it’s easy to forget why you loved that person in the first place.
We are all imperfect. You’re going to hurt people, and people are going to hurt you, whether or not it’s intentional.
It’s a fact that you’re going to be hurt in life. The question is, what are you doing to do with that hurt? Are you going to let it make you better, or are you going to let it make you bitter?
Resentment won’t just make you bitter. It will also destroy your relationships. The people we love the most are the ones we often end up resenting the most.
The antidote to resentment is forgiveness. Resentment tears down relationships, but forgiveness builds them up. If you’re going to have meaningful relationships that last a lifetime, then you’re going to need massive doses of forgiveness. Colossians 3:13 says, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT).
Don’t let resentment build up in your life because you’re holding on to a grudge. You’re only hurting yourself! You’ve got to let it go and forgive so that you can start living a life of purpose.
Talk It Over
- How do you know when you’ve let your hurt turn into resentment? At what point should you forgive the other person?
- Why does resentment hurt you more than the other person?
- What is one way you can remind yourself of how much God has forgiven you so that you more easily forgive others?
Will you follow Jesus today?
God proved his goodness through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 CSB).
Are you ready to trust God to fulfill his promise of eternal life? If so, start by praying this simple prayer: “Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
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