I have decided to write a series of articles regarding one of the biggest issues we face today, depression. I have seen it soak into the souls of the most vibrant people and seen how it steals joy. It is time to face this issue head on and see about reclaiming our joy!
I have found that one of the leading causes for depression is unforgiveness. Society as a whole is quick to judge others, labels are placed on people all of the time. How much of that time do we actually look at ourselves and evaluate ourselves. We get so focused on others, and what they have done to us that we do not see what we do and how we treat others. This focus on the wrongs of others and how they have hurt us breeds unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness is one of the worst 'joy stealers' in the world. When you hold back forgiveness the only one you hurt is yourself. Forgiving someone does not mean that you are letting them off the hook for what they have done, but you are releasing yourself from the pain that they have caused you. When we hold back forgiveness from others we also close the door on God’s forgiveness. “Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, New Century Version) Therefore, we hold back God’s forgiveness of our sins every time we hold back forgiveness from others.
We need to let God judge others and not judge them ourselves. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, New International Version) We are to examine our own lives. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, New International Version) When we focus on our own lives we will not find it as hard to forgive others, because we will realize we make mistakes too. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, New International Version)
The only way to true freedom is to forgive so that we can be forgiven for all of our sins as well.
Unforgiveness is one of the worst 'joy stealers' in the world. When you hold back forgiveness the only one you hurt is yourself. Forgiving someone does not mean that you are letting them off the hook for what they have done, but you are releasing yourself from the pain that they have caused you. When we hold back forgiveness from others we also close the door on God’s forgiveness. “Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, New Century Version) Therefore, we hold back God’s forgiveness of our sins every time we hold back forgiveness from others.
We need to let God judge others and not judge them ourselves. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, New International Version) We are to examine our own lives. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, New International Version) When we focus on our own lives we will not find it as hard to forgive others, because we will realize we make mistakes too. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, New International Version)
The only way to true freedom is to forgive so that we can be forgiven for all of our sins as well.