How hard it is to forgive, and how painful not to

Morning: Psalm 88; Numbers 13:1-3, 21-30; Romans 2:25—3:8

Evening: Psalms 91, 92; Matthew 18:21-35

A friend admitted how hard forgiveness is.  Jesus says, Forgive always!  If you don’t, you suffer – not as punishment, but because not being able to forgive is itself a painful, inner torture.  God does not inflict suffering; it comes from disturbances in the natural order.  When you cannot forgive, your world is off-kilter and you suffer turmoil. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus connects experiencing forgiveness with the ability to forgive.  When I cannot forgive, maybe it’s that I myself feel unforgiven in some way?  I pray my friend will be able to make peace and find relief.