The man said, "I don't get mad. I get even." He was talking about his attitude to anyone who does him wrong. That's the way the world thinks. God thinks differently. It's His will for us to forgive others, "forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). Choose to forgive.
You may say, "It's hard to forgive. I'm not sure that I can." Yes, you can. Forgiving is a choice of your will. You may not feel like it, but you choose to forgive. You may not want to forgive, but you need to forgive. It's hard to forgive, but it's harder not to forgive. Jesus made it clear. He said, "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15).
You may say, "But they don't want my forgiveness." It's about you and your relationship with God. He wants to show His mercy and heal your hurt. You can forgive others before God in prayer. Jesus is the greatest example. On the cross, He asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him. He teaches us to forgive others in prayer: "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive others who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12).
Forgiving one another is the will of God. It is evidence that we are living in God's will. It is the fruit of God's grace working in us. Those who forgive know that they are forgiven. The Spirit of Christ enables us to forgive, that God may heal the broken places in our hearts.
