DAILY TEXT, Sunday, April 26, 2026. Jehovah generously forgave you, so do the same (Col. 3:13).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Jehovah generously forgave you, so do the same (Col. 3:13).

Jehovah expects us to be willing to forgive those who hurt us (Ps. 86:5; Luke 17:4; Eph. 4:32). Someone may say or do something that wounds us deeply, and it hurts even more if it is a close friend or family member (Ps. 55:12-14). At times, emotional pain can be as sharp as the blow of a sword (Prov. 12:18). We may try to suppress or ignore our feelings. But doing so would be like having a dagger plunged into the wound and leaving it there without doing anything to remove it. We will not heal our hurt feelings if we do not acknowledge what we feel.

When someone offends us, our initial reaction may be to become angry. The Bible acknowledges that this can happen. However, it counsels us not to let such negative emotions control us (Ps. 4:4; Eph. 4:26). Why? Because anger rarely leads us astray (Jas. 1:20). Remember: Getting angry is a reaction that may not be up to you, but staying angry is a choice that is always up to you. w25.02 15 pars. 4-6

What other emotions might we feel when someone hurts us?

When someone hurts us, we may also feel other painful emotions. For example, a sister named Ann relates: “When I was little, my dad left my mom and married my nanny. I felt abandoned. And when they had children, I felt replaced. I grew up feeling like nobody loved me.” A sister named Georgette describes how she felt when she learned that her husband had been unfaithful: “My heart was broken. We had been friends since we were little. We were pioneer partners!” A sister named Naomi says: “I never imagined that my husband would hurt me. When he confessed that he had been secretly watching pornography, I felt deceived and betrayed.”

What are some of the reasons why we should forgive?

We cannot control what others say or do, but we can control how we react. And generally, the best thing we can do is forgive. Why? Because we love Jehovah, and he wants us to. Furthermore, if we remain angry and do not forgive, we are likely to end up acting foolishly and even harming our health. (Prov. 14:17, 29, 30) Consider what a sister named Christine says: “When I let myself be overcome by hurt, I smile less, neglect my diet, and don’t get enough sleep. I also find it harder to control my emotions, and that ends up affecting my marriage and my relationships with others.”

Why should we get rid of resentment?

What if the person who hurt us never apologizes? Even so, we can do something to prevent the situation from continuing to hurt us. Georgette, mentioned in paragraph 7, explains: “It took me some time, but I managed to let go of the resentment and anger I felt toward my ex-husband. What I felt afterward was pure peace.” When we let go of resentment, we prevent our hearts from becoming filled with bitterness. We also give ourselves a gift: we allow ourselves to move on and enjoy life again (Prov. 11:17). Now, you may have acknowledged how you feel but not yet feel ready to forgive. Let’s consider the second step.

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