HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2026
God doesn’t tell us not to feel. He has built strong sensors for us to feel.
How we process anger, grief, hurt, betrayal, and abandonment determines how it affects our future.
MANY PEOPLE OFFER CONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS
90% Forgiveness and 10% unforgiveness still = 100% UNFORGIVENESS
1. TRUTH #1: LIFE ISN’T FAIR.
Psalm 102:11; Psalm 90:12
- When we have been mistreated, it seems totally unfair to forgive those who mistreated us.
- When we are hurt, we want to assign blame and have someone pay for what has happened. (REMEMBER: God is a just God.) ( 32:4; Isaiah 61:7-8)
- When we stay angry, it blocks God’s movement in our lives. Psalm 37:1-2, 8
TRUTH: If someone has mistreated us and we remain angry, then we are just as guilty as they are. I Peter 3:9
2. TRUTH #2- NO ONE OWES ME.
People wrongly interpret that some payments are due from oppressors. In the cancel culture, we want people to suffer. God clearly says, “Vengeance is His.” Romans 12:17-19
- Learning to let go and let God be God is the only real cure.
- Unforgiveness causes hurt, stress, and physical difficulties. The symptoms are often stress-related, stemming from unforgiveness.
3. TRUTH #3 – DON’T WEAR THINGS THAT DON’T FIT. Col. 3:12-14
Hating people is hard work. We are supposed to: “Put on Love.” A refusal to forgive adversely affects our faith, weighs heavily on our conscience, and prevents true worship. Love is more than a feeling; it is a decision.
- We really don’t have a choice but to forgive those who have hurt us.
- Walking in love is not easy when people are not acting lovingly. Romans 8:28
We keep doing, keep loving, and trust God to take care of the rest. Making the right choice is worth it, in the end. Pressing past anger and unforgiveness.
- Do what is right, not what you feel like doing.
4. TRUTH #4- RESIST THE BLAME GAME TEMPTATION.
Laying blame is a problem, but blaming the wrong person is even worse. Our warfare is with the devil, not people. Ephesians 6:12
Satan is evil, and the way we get back at him is to do good to everyone we meet – aggressively.
When we become bitter, we open many areas of our lives to an unforgiving spirit.
- Our joy, our health, our peace, our prayer life, and our sleep habits are all affected.
- It stands to reason that disunity will produce powerlessness.
5. TRUTH #5 – STRIFE WILL STIR UP THE DEMONIC.
- Demonic spirits sent out by satan creates strife.
- Their job is to prevent peace, progress, and prosperity. They are sent to destroy businesses, churches, ministries, and marriages. Philippians 2:3
CONTENTION COMES BY A PRIDEFUL ATTITUDE.
- It cannot come any other way. Where there is bickering and arguing, there is a haughty spirit that views itself as better. James 3:16-18; Romans 2:1
- As a Christian, you can’t have happiness unless you keep strife out of your life. (Hebrews 12:5)
- James 1:20 –The Anger of man does not promote the righteousness of God.
Romans 12:18
The more quickly I forgive, the less likely I am to have a problem. I Peter 5:8-9
6. TRUTH #6- 4 STEPS TO VICTORY. Gal. 6:9
Sometimes we choose to forgive, yet our feelings toward the person who hurt us remain unforgiving.
- Forgive those who have hurt us.
- Pray for them as God told us.
- Bless others.
- Wait on God.
7. TRUTH #7- LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE.
Our problems are not what we struggle with; more specifically, they are angry and vengeful responses to them.
- How often do we talk about them?
- How do we usually rehearse the hurt? Acts 9:2
- Walking in love is not easy when people are not acting lovingly. Romans 8:28
CONCLUSION:
Give up the right to be right. The right to get even. The right to keep score. The right to tell everybody how “someone else is wrong.”
WHAT SHOULD I CHANGE?