Resentment- Let It Rest in Peace

If we continue the same theme from yesterday... If we don't forgive, we harbor resentment. And there's that bowling ball again. To harbor resentment is a verb... you have to work at it. You're actively holding that bowling ball over your head. And you, it's hard work. But it's also hard work to let it go, when you've felt it necessary so long that you've forgotten how to not hold a bowling ball. But forgiveness (like the truth) will set you free.

2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. (Job 5:2)

Though this statement is spoken by Job's friends in their monologue and not appreciated by Job as being empathetic, the words are true... and Job lives them out nonetheless. Resentment kills a fool. Actually, whether it kills or not, it certainly makes you foolish. There may be some resentment you hide in your heart right now that your friend/mother/brother/etc has long since forgotten. They don't let it bother them, why do you let the bitterness bother you? We know the saying, "Let go and let God." I believe that at times it is very hard. We need to ask to take it away and give us the grace and the great strength to 'play fair' and not bring up past hurts, to not hold it in our heart or over our head or even down by our side in our bowling bag. It's gone. No more. Resentment: Rest in Peace.

1And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. (Acts 8:1-3)

Now here is a remarkable example of letting go of resentment. At the stoning of Stephen, Saul was approving everything. Saul, the later Paul, who would later be positively prolific in the Bible writing letter upon letter to churches. Saul went from aiding in Stephen's death and destroying the church to becoming a church leader? Think of the members of the church and how they might've felt. It is clear to me that they were experts at forgiving and letting resentment rest. I can only pray that we may be able to do the same.

Yesterday I was amazed at my brother's wisdom. Although he is my younger brother, he is very wise. He counseled me and said, "Katie, whatever you do, just make sure you don't harbor any bad feelings. Don't feel bitter about this and bring it up other times. You have to let it go." It is true. It is important. I need to forgive in a complete way of forgiveness and hope for a future of honest input right from the beginning, of being able to make our own decisions independent of parental feelings, of being married in mind and spirit and body & standing up for one another. That's why the hope is in there... closely tied with the greatest of these, love. Lord, help me to forgive in the way you teach us to forgive. I cast my burdens (my resentment) on you. Take it away from me, Father... and let me put resentment to rest.