Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21‭-‬22)

We all know that when someone hurt us and hurt us some more; or even if they hurt us just once but we were really hurt, that it is hard to forgive them.

The instruction from God in His Word to forgive, is a command. If we do not forgive, God cannot forgive us. Can we live, knowing that God will not forgive us? Let us put a selah on that; let us seriously pause for more than just a moment and think about that.

Does any of us really want to carry a hurt and not get forgiveness from God? It is not worth it.

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. (Matthew 6:14‭-‬15) 

When we choose not to forgive, we are hurting ourselves. We are the ones unable to sleep; we are the ones unable to eat; we are the ones who are being eaten alive.

The root of bitterness is growing deeper and deeper and our very bodies are suffering as a result. 

looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15) 

God will not even accept our gift if we are living with unforgiveness. Neither will He hear us when we pray. Does anyone want to live the rest of his life in this kind of torment?

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25‭-‬26) 

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5:23‭-‬24) 

Even when we know someone has an ought against us, God expects us to go and make reconciliation.

If we are going to see the face of God; if we are expecting to have the peace of God; if we expect God to forgive, forgiveness begins with us.

What will we do? The answer lies with each of us. If we desire peace, we must let go of the hurt and the pain, no matter how hard it is, by forgiving each other.