By Mallory Mattingly
Sometimes, God’s word and science don’t seem related, but in reality, science can actually prove the benefits of the Bible and its principles. Such is the case with forgiveness, as Relevant Magazine reported.
“When You Forgive, You Heal Faster”
We’ve all likely heard that forgiveness isn’t for the person you’re forgiving; instead, it’s for you. And that couldn’t be more true, even for your physical health.
The thing about forgiveness that many people forget is that oftentimes, it isn’t just one-and-done. Sometimes, depending on the hurt, forgiveness is about picking up your cross daily, following Jesus and choosing to forgive the person who wronged you.
Researchers found that victims of abuse “who forgive their abuser receive measurable improvements in psychological and physical health. When compared to control groups, the forgivers healed faster and more completely,” Relevant Magazine reported.
Related: Bethany Joy Lenz’s Memoir to Recount Escape from Cult: ‘Story of Forgiveness’
“Unforgiveness Physically Limits You”
Sometimes, we can’t stop thinking about how someone hurt us. While they may not necessarily be thinking about the incident any more, we remain in bondage. The truth is that holding onto a grudge does nothing for the person who hurt you. Instead, it makes you bitter and angry.
Science shows that obsessing over the person who harmed you “takes cognitive energy, and affects our brains and bodies. It raises the levels of stress hormones in our bloodstream and can elevate our blood pressure and contribute to weight gain. It even affects our ability to focus and form new memories.”
One study even suggested that forgiveness releases a weight off our bodies. The study found that “people could actually jump higher after consciously forgiving someone. Another study showed that people who thought about a grudge viewed physical tasks are more demanding.”
For example, NFL superstar Mike Evans lost his father at 9-years-old after his uncle killed him. Initially, and understandably, Evans was angry, but he began to see the negative effects those feelings had on his life. Eventually, he chose to forgive his uncle.
“I was thinking like, I gotta waste my time on this guy? This murderer? And then, you know, I just had to get over that,” Evans said. “That’s my family still, even though he can’t play God like that, but I love him. As time progressed, I just told him I forgave him.”
“Forgiving Doesn’t Mean You Accept Further Harm”
Just because you decided to forgive someone does not mean that you have to let them back into your life so that they can hurt you again.
Forgiveness means that you have accepted what happened to you and you have moved on without being bitter or resentful towards the other person. Forgiveness does not mean you can’t put the necessary boundaries in place so that you are not hurt or abused again.
Forgiveness enables us to be able to move on with our lives without taking revenge on the one who hurt us. It frees us from bitterness and exemplifies the forgiveness Christians experience through Christ’s death and resurrection. So if you’re holding onto to a past wrong today, forgive the other person. It will bless you physically and spiritually.
Read Next: How This NFL Star Forgave the Family Member Who Killed His Father
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