Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭34‬
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

“How do I get rid of bitterness, anger, violence, slander, and malice? I keep trying to, but they keep coming back in my heart. I try to forgive, but then someone hurts me all over again.”

I feel like I have heard this told to me over and over again. I think I have even said it a few times myself. And it represents one of the eternal struggles of the ages, and a real life struggle I have gone through personally.

I had to forgive some for unkind comments and unkind actions, after my mom died when I was 13. Since then, I have forgiven those who have stolen from me, slandered me, and done evil things to those I loved. How does one forgive, when so much evil, pain, or suffering has come?

Honestly, it is somewhat of a mystery to me, when I see incredible forgiveness. One example on Sunday was Erika Kirk. She stands as a pillar of forgiveness, grace, and love in my mind. She forgave her husband’s assassin. WOW! And she did it on live TV at his memorial service. She decided that God’s message of forgiveness was more important than her rights, her pain, and her struggle. As I watched her standing there … struggling and crying, I could see the battle of her will. She willed herself, by the power of God’s Spirit, to forgive, though no one expected her to.

And she didn’t care how it made her hurt or look or feel. She just obeyed God. And in doing so, she let go of years of future bitterness, rage, slander, and malice for herself and her children. She conquered this evil attack with God’s forgiveness displayed in her.

While the attack was physical (the taking of an innocent life) equally important is to understand the spiritual attack. Erika understood this and responded beautifully. The spiritual attack is the temptation to let bitterness, rage, anger, and malice creep in. Instead she chose to let God’s forgiveness take free reign.

God will use every hard and painful situation for his glory. We must offer them up to him and obey his call to forgive. Then, in the midst of loss and death, the beauty of forgiveness rises and the wonderful fragrance of the sacrificial love of Jesus spreads to all around!

Shine, Lord Jesus, shine from Erika Kirk into the hearts around the world, trapped by unforgiveness today. You have forgiven us all of sin. And you call us … no, you command us to forgive as we have been forgiven. May I join Erika and share how you have forgiven me and given me the gift of an “it doesn’t even make sense”-type of forgiveness. This is a powerful source for redemption. Thank you for forgiving me!