When people let us down

People will disappoint us. It’s one of the quieter certainties of life, and the closer we work with someone, the more inevitable it becomes.

What we do with that disappointment is another matter entirely.

Paul wrote: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” (Colossians 3:13, NIV).

The command is clear. Living it out is another matter.

C.S. Lewis observed: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.”

As Christians, forgiving others is an obvious “good Christian thing.” What we have to watch out for is the resentment that may still take root, sometimes disguising itself as reasonable frustration, until one day we realize it has taken up permanent residence.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:40, NIV

Extending grace,