Don't pick up what you weren't meant to carry.

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble.” Hebrews 12:15

If someone has hurt you, intentionally or not, you try to reconcile. You explain how you feel. You accept any responsibility you have for the problem and apologize. You listen to what the other person has to say.

If that person is willing to work things out, you forgive the same way God forgave you- without conditions. If they aren’t interested in fixing things, you still do the same thing. Forgive. Easy to do? No. The right thing to do? Always.

Just because that’s what God asks doesn’t mean it isn’t tempting to pick up a little something as you leave. It’s called a grudge. But the only thing a grudge changes is you. It weighs you down and makes you bitter. The bitterness can spill over into angry, complaining words or a self-righteous attitude. Neither of these reflects the true woman God created you to be.

Carrying a grudge is like toting around someone else’s dirty laundry. Ask God to help you pick up forgiveness instead.

-As shared by the Women of Joy conference team