The Spiritual Self-Imprisonment

Spiritual self-imprisonment is a real state for many people. It happens when we refuse to forgive others. Anger and hatred become our prisons. We build the walls ourselves with every bitter thought. The Bible warns us clearly about this danger.

The book of Sirach provides a direct warning about this condition. It says that if you nourish anger against another person, you cannot expect healing from the Lord. God cannot heal a heart that clings tightly to wrath. This is not a punishment from God. It is a spiritual law that operates in our souls. Our bitterness simply blocks the flow of divine mercy.

-----------------------------------------------

If you nourish anger against another person, you cannot expect healing from the Lord. God cannot heal a heart that clings tightly to wrath.

-----------------------------------------------

Jesus in the parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates this truth. The master forgave an enormous debt that the servant could never repay. That same servant then refused to forgive a small amount of debt from his fellow servant. The master became furious and handed him over to the torturers. Jesus concludes with a sobering statement. The heavenly Father will do the same to us unless we forgive from our hearts.

Consider a modern Christian working woman. She works in the office of a large church. A fellow staff member spreads a false rumor about her. The rumor damages her reputation among her friends and colleagues. She is deeply wounded and completely betrayed. She thinks, 'Why would he do such a thing?'

Each day she begins to run the painful event through her mind again. She feels hot anger rising in her chest whenever she sees him. She starts to plot how she can expose his lie to everyone. She wants him fired and humiliated and she wants it badly. She stops praying for him. She avoids him entirely. Her heart froze, hardened to ice. She has trouble sleeping at night and feels far from God.

Her unforgiveness is killing her spiritual life. Her prayers feel empty and useless. She cannot worship with true joy in the services. She is always tense, suspicious, and easily annoyed. She has built a strong prison around her soul. The key to that prison is in her hand. She realizes that he does not even know the depth of her daily pain. She is the one suffering the most from her anger.

During a Sunday sermon, she hears a clear message about forgiveness. She remembers the parable in Matthew chapter eighteen. She realizes that her unforgiveness is a big debt that she owes God. She decides to forgive him even if she doesn't feel like it at first. She asks for the grace to do the right thing. She begins to pray for his health and success. She decides to release the anger and the desire for revenge. This act becomes a spiritual breakthrough for her.

-----------------------------------------------

Forgiveness does not excuse the wrong. Instead, it frees us from the prison of hatred and bitterness.

-----------------------------------------------

The moment she truly forgives, her chains break apart. She finds peace and rest for her soul once again. Her relationship with God is restored and feels alive. Forgiveness does not excuse the wrong that he did. Instead, it frees her from the prison of hatred and bitterness. Both Sirach and Jesus provide us the same essential truth. Are we willing to forgive others to receive healing from God? We are to release others from their debts to be released ourselves. (*)