The Karma of Unforgiveness

Recently, the topic of forgiveness kept coming up. It became a topic amongst my friends, and I would see posts on Facebook which eluded that there’s a lot of people challenged with unforgiveness. Some people are aware, but many are unaware. They believe that their feelings and actions are appropriate after being wronged. However, when you hold a grudge and/or retaliate, those are clear indications that you haven’t forgiven or worst, chose not to.

There are so many scenarios that happen in our lives where one offends us, and we must make it a point to ensure those people know how to treat us and understand how we expect to be treated. We believe in punishing people when they cross our lines to establish our boundaries. I am not exempt from wanting people who have wronged me to suffer. We wish “Karma” on people and in many cases want to be an eyewitness to the pain that they will suffer. This is a dangerous mindset which I will explain.

Whether you are a believer in Christ or not, most believe in “Karma”, “reaping what you sow”, or “what goes around comes around.” These are principles of life that you can’t escape whether good or bad. If you truly understand these concepts, then you understand that someone’s “Karma” will happen with or without you. For believers, there are scriptures that address how you should handle people who have hurt you and mistreated you.

In the Bible, Jesus tells us that we should forgive those who have wronged us no less than “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). “Pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). “Forgive and God the father will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). Bless and curse not those who persecute you (Romans 12:14). This last one messed me up because when I am wronged, I’m ready for the Lord to get them and fight my battles! As I mentioned earlier, you want to see the suffering to know that they were dealt with. The mentality is flawed. As Jesus hung on the cross He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. What?? We can’t handle someone telling our business or gossiping about us before we’re talking about them, blocking them and God only knows what else.

After dealing with this like many others, I myself have hurt and wronged others. When we hurt others, we want grace and forgiveness that we don’t always wish to extend. As mentioned earlier, we reap what we sow whether that’s good or bad. So, when we sow unforgiveness we reap unforgiveness. When I pray curses on people who hurt me, I reap curses. Jesus was telling us how to keep our hearts clean, so we don’t reap a harvest that we intended on someone else. That was deep for me. I’m not saying that when someone wrongs you that they resume the place they once held with you; however, I’m telling you to sow forgiveness where you don’t wish harm or punishment on them. The relationship may not be the same moving forward but if you want mercy, sow mercy and if you want grace, sow grace. If you don’t want judgment, don’t sow judgment.

Again, “Karma” and “reaping what you sow” are principles of life that are determined by your good and bad. For us to start taking the journeys in our destiny, design and purpose we must also refine those things that hinder us and prevent us from obtaining greatness. Unforgiveness poisons the heart. Your heart is needed to fulfill purpose. The karma you sow has a harvest attached to it, choose what fruit you want it to bring forth.