You’ve heard it before—and maybe experienced yourself—that opposites attract. When you’re single and see somebody that’s not like you, it’s fascinating. You find their characteristics and personality traits that are not like yours exciting and attractive. Then you get in a relationship or you get married, and a year later, all those exciting traits suddenly turn annoying. What once attracted you now makes you want to attack them! Unrealistic expectations in relationships set us up for resentment. 

Often it’s not the big things in life that make us resentful. A lot of little things can start to pile up. The irritations turn into resentment, and it’s easy to forget why you loved that person in the first place. 

We are all imperfect. You’re going to hurt people, and people are going to hurt you, whether or not it’s intentional.  

It’s a fact that you’re going to be hurt in life. The question is, what are you doing to do with that hurt? Are you going to let it make you better, or are you going to let it make you bitter? 

Resentment won’t just make you bitter. It will also destroy your relationships. The people we love the most are the ones we often end up resenting the most.

The antidote to resentment is forgiveness. Resentment tears down relationships, but forgiveness builds them up. If you’re going to have meaningful relationships that last a lifetime, then you’re going to need massive doses of forgiveness. Colossians 3:13 says, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT).  

Don’t let resentment build up in your life because you’re holding on to a grudge. You’re only hurting yourself! You’ve got to let it go and forgive so that you can start living a life of purpose.