We can learn a lot from the story of Joseph. One is about not holding a grudge. We often go straight to his brothers with this thought, but they weren’t the only ones that hurt Joseph. There was Potiphar’s wife and also the cup bearer. Yes the cup bearer, the man that Joseph interprets the dream for and then forgets him in prison for 2 years. When Joseph is finally delivered and put in charge of Egypt he could have easily taken vengeance on Potiphar, his wife and the cup bearer. He was done wrong by his family, his employer and even the person that he lifted up while in his own bondage.
But Joseph had learned something. He learned that he may not be able to control the circumstances around him, but he could control the circumstances in him. He may have been in a physical bondage, but he was not going to allow his spirit to be bound as well. Joseph learned how to forgive and let things go.
You may have been done wrong by family, coworkers, employers, friends, etc. Yes it hurt, but the grudge that you hold onto can be a poison inside of you that does more damage by keeping it locked in your heart. We must not hold grudges against people as it locks the door of forgiveness that we must walk through ourselves, creating a self made prison. As it says in Matthew 6:14-16 (KJV) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. So by not forgiving someone we forfeit our ability to be forgiven. I understand that what they did hurt. Understand this though, there has to be a grievance in order for forgiveness to be needed. Simply put, that is why the subject of forgiveness even came up.
So don’t hold a grudge, let it go, let them go, let yourself go.
Colossians 3:13 NLT
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
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