Too Heavy to Carry

Too Heavy to Carry

Someone once asked, "Did you know the longer you carry a grudge the heavier it gets?" Refusing to forgive those who wrong us can be a wearying weight on the soul.

On the other hand, when we choose to forgive, we shed a huge burden we simply don't need to carry through life. It can make us absolutely "light-hearted" to put down the burden of a grudge.

What can you do to keep from carrying grudges and an unforgiving spirit through life?

For one thing, clarify your "inner occupation." Do you want to make judging others your spiritual career path? Jesus said, "Do not judge lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1), indicating that pursuing the occupation of judge will boomerang on you.

Judging, just like taking vengeance, belongs to God, not to people: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Rom. 12:19, KJV). Even after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, he said to God, "Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned" (Ps. 51:4).

Since God makes the rules, He is the only true Judge. People who wrong others really wrong God more than others. Relieve yourself of the responsibility that actually belongs only to God.

Giving up the judgeship means you also relieve yourself of the responsibility of punishment. Forgiving someone doesn't necessarily mean we forget immediately or even completely, but it does mean we no longer hold a private grudge that desires to punish, or to see them punished.

We can also avoid carrying grudges by resolving conflicts as they occur. "Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Eph. 4:26). Which would you rather face-the short-term, emotional pain of asking another to forgive you for your anger, or carrying the cancerous feelings of bitterness for a lifetime? It's your choice.