If you are tormented by illness, you may need to ask yourself: ‘Is there anyone I haven’t forgiven?’
Jesus said in the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt 18:21-35) that his father arranges for unforgiving believers to be tortured.
Ouch!
This cuts across the contemporary concept of God being a daddy who hands out blessings like sweeties.
But his rules don’t change.
Jesus also made it clear in Matthew 6: 15: ‘If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’
This explains why some people feel guilty all the time. In God’s sight, they are guilty until they have forgiven others.
Unforgiveness opens the door to physical, mental or emotional torture.
I’ve prayed with people who prefer to suffer cancer, wasting diseases and mental illness rather than forgive someone.
Some have even preferred to die.
Forgiveness isn’t easy. The hurt, abuse and damage that people inflict on you can be very real.
You weren’t responsible for their actions. But you are responsible for forgiving them. Or not.
They may not deserve your forgiveness. But you don’t deserve God’s. Neither do I.
So, the choice you face today may be: forgive and be healed. Or remain ill.
Ask God for the grace to show people the mercy that he has shown you.