Forgiving others can be a very difficult thing to do. We live in a world surrounded by imperfect people, ourselves included, and with that comes inevitable hurt and pain. Sometimes this pain is caused intentionally, other times unintentionally, but the result is the same — we feel hurt.
The challenge becomes even greater when those who have hurt us either don’t realize they’ve done anything wrong or refuse to apologize. So, what do we do?
In this blog post, I will explore the top reasons why forgiveness is important and how it benefits us. It’s crucial to understand that when we forgive others, it’s not about them; it’s actually about us. By embracing forgiveness, we can unlock powerful emotional and psychological benefits that pave the way for a more fulfilling life.
Forgiveness Brings Peace
When we have been hurt by someone, a wave of negative emotions such as anger, frustration, bitterness, and sadness can flood our hearts and minds, weighing us down and disrupting our inner peace.
This emotional turmoil can be incredibly burdensome, affecting our mental and physical well-being. This is why forgiveness is important; it offers a path to release these negative emotions and reclaim our peace.
By choosing to forgive, we are not condoning the hurtful actions but rather freeing ourselves from the grip of resentment.
Forgiveness benefits us by lifting the emotional weight we carry, allowing us to move forward with a sense of calm and balance. It paves the way for healing and personal growth, ultimately leading to a more serene and fulfilling life.
For additional help with learning to forgive read I Want to Move On by Lauren Vander Linden. She provides personal insight and uses teachings from the Bible to help us learn to how to forgive and move on.
It’s a Commandment from God
Forgiveness is not only a commendable virtue but a divine commandment, underscored throughout the scriptures with powerful examples from our Savior.
From the compassionate act of forgiving the woman caught in adultery to the moving parable of the prodigal son, Jesus exemplifies the importance of forgiving others.
Perhaps the most profound instance is His plea from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” showcasing ultimate mercy even in suffering.
In Matthew 6, the Lord emphasizes the necessity of forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, stating, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” This underlines that our own forgiveness by God is contingent upon our willingness to forgive others.
Similarly, in Mosiah, in the Book of Mormon, we are reminded that failing to forgive others places us under condemnation. Thus, if our goal is to emulate the forgiving nature of the Lord, extending mercy to those around us becomes not just an act of kindness, but a fundamental spiritual duty.
Forgiveness is important because it aligns us with God’s will and brings profound benefits to our spiritual and emotional well-being.
The Lord can and will help us heal and overcome our anger and hurt as shown in He Can Heal by Gary Ceran. Read to learn about his personal journey with forgiveness and how the Lord helped him heal.
Improves Mental & Emotional Health
Forgiveness is important because it plays a crucial role in enhancing our mental and emotional health.
Our mental and emotional well-being are closely intertwined, and harboring anger and resentment can fill our minds with constant negative emotions. As motivational speaker Earl Nightingale once said, “We become what we think about.”
This means that if negative thoughts continually consume us, we are likely to experience feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
On the other hand, choosing to forgive allows us to release these negative emotions and make room for positive ones. By letting go of grudges, we free our minds to focus on happiness, peace, and joy, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and harmonious life.
Therefore, forgiveness benefits us by transforming our mental landscape from one of turmoil to one of tranquility.
Improves Physical Health
Physical health may not be something that comes to our mind when we think about forgiving others, but forgiveness can actually improve our physical well-being, which makes sense if you think about it.
When I have been really angry, the stress I feel, the increase in my blood pressure, and the headaches I get are all things that negatively impact my health. When my mind and body are at peace because I’m not holding onto that anger and resentment, I feel calmer.
Forgiveness can lower your risk of heart attack, reduce your blood pressure, and lower pain. It can also help improve your cholesterol levels and your sleep.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the fact that when I hold onto my anger towards someone, I’m giving them the power to hurt me over and over again because of how it’s negatively affecting my body.
This is a compelling reason why forgiveness is important: not only does it benefit our emotional well-being, but it also contributes significantly to our physical health.
Improves Our Relationships
Another reason why forgiveness is important is because it improves our relationships. People are going to hurt one another; it’s an inevitable part of life. We can either let these hurts come between us and ruin our relationships, or we can learn to let go and move on.
It’s okay to let the person who hurt you know how their actions affected you. Sometimes, people do hurtful things without even realizing it, and communicating this is part of growth and learning.
However, if you’ve expressed that their actions hurt you and they continue to repeat them, it may be time to reevaluate that relationship. No one says you have to stay in a relationship with someone who persistently hurts you and doesn’t care. But if they are genuinely sorry and make efforts to do better, we need to be willing to give them another chance.
Even if the relationship ends, learning to forgive is crucial because holding onto anger and resentment will only continue to hurt you long after that person is gone from your life.
If we could learn to forgive and communicate better about what hurts us, our marriages and family relationships would be stronger and less likely to dissolve. This emphasizes how forgiveness benefits us by fostering healthier, more resilient relationships.
Marriage can be plagued with anger and hurt, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Read From Anger to Intimacy: How Forgiveness Can Transform Your Marriage by Gary Smalley to see how you can make your marriage stronger today.
Conclusion
Forgiveness is important for many reasons. It brings us peace, aligning us with God’s commandment to forgive, and it significantly improves our mental, emotional, and physical health.
Moreover, forgiveness strengthens our relationships, fostering deeper connections and understanding.
While the journey to forgiveness can be challenging, remember that you have the strength to overcome even the deepest hurts. As you practice forgiveness, you’ll find yourself becoming more resilient and at peace.
The process may be slow and difficult, but with time, you will notice that the weight of hurt and anger no longer consumes you.
So, let’s commit to releasing our burdens, understanding that forgiveness benefits us in countless ways, and embracing the healing and peace it brings into our lives.
Sometimes it helps us to read stories of others who have been hurt and see how they learned to forgive. Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Forgiveness by Amy Newmark and Anthony Anderson is a really good book that does just that.
I am not a medical professional. Please see Disclaimer.
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