We will all be hurt in this life. Many times we’ll be hurt intentionally by what people say about us or what people do to us. In fact, anytime we read the word “forgiveness,” we instantly call to mind certain heartaches, hurts, and problems from our past. The memories are still fresh because we’ve been hurt very deeply.

Because of how deeply we’ve been hurt, it’s hard to consider forgiving the perpetrators. But the Bible gives us one very important reason we need to forgive.

We forgive others because God forgave us.

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (NIV). When you think about how much God has forgiven you, it will cause you to be more forgiving of those who have hurt you.

The opposite is also true. If you don’t feel forgiven, then you’ll have a hard time forgiving others. If you typically have a tough time forgiving others, you may not truly feel forgiven yourself.

Think of it like this: God has completely wiped your sin slate clean because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. All of the things you deserve to be paid back for have been cleared away because God has forgiven you. Own that statement for yourself, and you’ll find it increasingly tough to hold a grudge against someone else.

Remember this: No matter what anyone does to you, you’ll never have to forgive any other person more than God has already forgiven you.

Holding on to resentment and bitterness—which is what happens when you refuse to forgive—will cause so much stress and exhaustion in your life. But when you forgive because of how you have been forgiven, your hurt will be replaced with God’s peace and rest.