As difficult as it is to be burned by someone you thought cared for your wellbeing and it’s even more difficult to forgive them after their deed is done. It’s hard to just forget and move on past it, as if it never happened. It takes most people a lot of time of reliving the act in their minds over and over again to really understand just what took place. After that, the pain is even more intensified, and you began to realize that their indiscretion has damaged you in more ways than you ever thought possible.

I think, it hurts so much because you care for them, and regarded them as a safe place for you to run to when needed. The likelihood of us who have lived as long as we have so far, to have never experienced betrayal, been lied on, or even misused by someone before is really unlikely. I have been a recipient of their deeds more than I choose to admit. Years have gone by and sometimes I can still feel some kind of way about it. I don’t want to be around them, don’t want to see their face, and if the deed was really harsh—I may not even want you to mention their name in my presence.

The Bible says, real love doesn’t keep score of other people’s wrongs towards you. Well, I guess I didn’t really love them anyway and it was now obvious to me that they were lacking in love towards me too. So, we’re even then, right? I think not.

Here’s the thing—forgiving folk that wrong you—benefits you—not them. Number one, it frees you from their emotional hold on you and frees you from the spiritual prison cell they have locked you into. Number two, it robs them of their power over you. Thirdly, Jesus told Peter to forgive folk—so that His heavenly Father would forgive him when he needed forgiveness too.

If we don’t let folks go through forgiveness—we hold ourselves captive to their deed and never really being able to move past it, cripples our lives going forward. When I learned that I was really hurting myself from my lack of desire to forgive them, I had to quickly reassess the harm that was being done to me was from myself and not them.

When that reality and truth came to me—it hit me like a ton of bricks, and I had to “Shake Myself Loose”. I encourage you today also—to Free Yourself and Shake Yourself Loose from any unforgiveness that may still be lingering on in your life. Purpose in your heart to free people from unforgiveness and in doing so you “Free Yourself”. Shake Yourself Loose today! (Read Matthew 6:14; Luke 17:3-4; and Luke 23:34)