CAN you relate to Linda, who was deeply hurt by the actions of a fellow believer? Sadly, some have been so disturbed by the conduct of others that it has affected their spiritual routine. Has that been true in your case?

Admittedly, we may find it very difficult to forgive a fellow believer who has hurt us. After all, Christians should love one another. (John 13:34, 35) If we have been wronged by a fellow believer, the disappointment and pain can be devastating.—Psalm 55:12.

Of course, the Bible acknowledges that there are times when Christians give one another “cause for complaint.” (Colossians 3:13) Even so, when that happens to us personally, we may find it to be quite a challenge to deal with. Is there anything that can help us? Consider three Scriptural principles:

Our heavenly Father is aware of everything. Jehovah observes all that happens, including any injustice we face and the suffering it causes. (Hebrews 4:13) Moreover, Jehovah feels for us when we suffer. (Isaiah 63:9) He never allows “tribulation or distress” or anything else—not even another servant of his—“to separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:35, 38, 39) Are we not moved to respond in like manner, not allowing anything or anyone to come between us and Jehovah?

To forgive is not to condone. When we forgive those who have wronged us, we are not minimizing, justifying, excusing, or condoning their actions. Remember, Jehovah never approves of sin, but he does forgive it if there is a basis for doing so. (Psalm 103:12, 13; Habakkuk 1:13) When he encourages us to forgive others, Jehovah is asking us to imitate him. He does not “stay resentful forever.”—Psalm 103:9; Matthew 6:14.

When we let go of resentment, we benefit ourselves. In what way? Imagine the following scenario. You pick up a rock, perhaps one that weighs just a few pounds, and hold it at arm’s length. You would probably have little trouble holding the rock for a short time. But what if you tried to do so for an extended period of time? How long would you be able to hold it—some minutes? an hour? or longer? No doubt, your arm would become very tired! Of course, the actual weight of the rock would not change. But the longer you held it, the heavier it would feel. The same is true of resentment. The longer we hold a grudge—even a rather small one—the more we hurt ourselves. Little wonder, then, that Jehovah encourages us to  let go of resentment. Really, letting go is for our own good.—Proverbs 11:17.

What helped Linda not to harbor resentment over the way she had been treated by a fellow believer? Among other things, she meditated on Scriptural reasons to extend forgiveness. (Psalm 130:3, 4) Linda was especially moved by knowing that when we extend forgiveness, Jehovah will, in turn, be forgiving toward us. (Ephesians 4:32–5:2) Regarding how those sentiments affected her, she says: “I felt as if Jehovah himself was talking to me.”

In time, Linda was able to let go of resentment. She freely forgave the sister, and now that sister is her dear friend. Linda has moved forward in her service to Jehovah. Be assured that Jehovah wants to help you do the same.

U GHA sẹtin daa ne Linda, zẹvbe ne ọ ya balọe se ugboloko ighẹ emwi ne ọtẹn ne iran gba ga ru ẹre ra? Ọ keghi re emwi nọ da ọmwa wẹẹ, emwa eso wa gie uyinmwẹ ọghe emwa ọvbehe rrua iran owẹ sẹ vberriọ wẹẹ, a de ghe iyeke na do gha rre ugamwẹ ọghe iran. Ọ he sunnu da uwẹ vberriọ ẹdẹ ra?

Vbene ẹmwata, ọ sẹtin gha rẹ evbọ kakabọ lọghọ na yabọ ọtẹn nọ ru ima khọọ. Sẹ ehia, ọ khẹke ne Ivbiotu e Kristi gha hoẹmwẹ egbe. (Jọn 13:34, 35) Adeghẹ ọtẹn na gba ga na ru ima emwi khọọ, egbewọmwẹ kevbe obalọ nọ lelẹe khian keghi re nọ ze ẹbe.—Psalm 55:12.

Vbene ẹmwata, e Baibol khare wẹẹ ẹghẹ eso rrọọ ne Ivbiotu e Kristi ya ru emwi nọ do gha ye iran ‘mwẹ egbe ẹzọ.’ (Kọlose 3:13) Ọrheyerriọ, ugbẹnso adeghẹ ima tobọ ima vbe ọtẹn ọvbehe ẹre ọ gba mwẹ egbe ẹzọ, ọ sẹtin gha lọghọ ima na sẹtin sọfurre yọ. Emwi rhọkpa rrọọ nọ gha ru iyobọ ne ima ra? Ziro yan ilele eha ọghe Evbagbẹn Nọhuanrẹn:

Erha mwa nọ rre ẹrinmwi rẹn emwi hia. Aro e Jehova keghi sotọ vbe egbe emwi hia nọ sunnu, deba a gbe ọmwa ekueku nọ rhirhi gha khin, kevbe usẹ nọ si ye ima egbe. (Hibru 4:13) Yevbesọni, e Jehova keghi tohan ima vbe ima gha se usẹ. (Aizaia 63:9) Irẹn i kue hiehie ne “orueghe ra ọlọghọmwa” ra emwi ọvbehe—uhiẹn ọguọmwadia ọghe irẹn ọvbehe—“wannọ ima hin ahoẹmwọmwa ọghe Osanobua rre.” (Rom 8:35, 38, 39) Ọ ma khẹke ne ima vbe gha mwẹ egbe ekhọe vberriọ wẹẹ, ima i khian kue ne emwi ke emwi ra ọmwaikọmwa la ẹkpo ima vbe Jehova ra?

Na yabọ ma rhiema wẹẹ, te a kue ye emwi dan. Adeghẹ ima na yabọ emwa ni ru ima khọọ, ọni ma rhiema wẹẹ te ima biabia re rua, ra te ima yẹrike, ra te ima kueyọ uyinmwẹ ọghe iran. Yerre wẹẹ e Jehova ma kpasẹ ye orukhọ na ru hiehie, sokpan irẹn keghi yabọ deghẹ esa na gha rrọọ nọ ru vberriọ. (Psalm 103:12, 13; Habakọk 1:13) Ne irẹn na bu ima ude ne ima gha yabọ emwa ọvbehe, te Jehova tama ima ne ima gha ya egbe ta irẹn. Irẹn i “mu ohu ne ai mu ye otọ.”—Psalm 103:9; Matiu 6:14.

Ima gha mu ohu fua, egbe ghi vbe rọkhọ ima. De odẹ nọkhin? Ye aro ekhọe ruẹ ghee igiemwi na. U rhie ikpokuta vbe otọ, egbọre ne ikpokuta ma khua gbe, u daeyi vbe obọ ruẹ nu niẹn uan. Ẹi khian khua ruẹ adeghẹ ovbiẹghẹ kherhe ẹre u ya daeyi. Sokpan deghẹ u na ghi hoo nu daeyi la ẹghẹ nọ taẹn vbo? Vbua khian daeyi kpẹẹ sẹ hẹ?—ifuanro eso nọ ra? ukẹdẹ eso nọ ra? ra ọ gha kpẹẹ sẹ ọni? Vbene ai na gbe awawẹ, obọ ghi do yan ruẹ! Vbene ẹmwata, afiwerriẹ i khian gha rrọọ vbe nọ dekaan vbene okuta nii gele khua sẹ hẹ. Sokpan vbene u ya daeyi kpẹẹ, erriọ khian ya gha khua sayọ vbe obọ ruẹ. Erriọ vbe ye ighẹ ohu  na sẹ rae ye ẹko. Vbene ohu ya kpẹẹ vbe ẹko ima—a gha we te ọ ye kherhe—erriọ vbe ya rhie ikuaengbe ne ima. Ẹi khabe ne Jehova na bu ima ude ne ima gha mu ohu fua. Gelegele, umamwẹ ọghe egbe ima ẹre ima ya re gualọ, deghẹ ima na mu ohu fua.—Itan 11:17.

Vbọ ru iyobọ ne Linda nọ ma na sẹ ye ekhọe, ighẹ emwi ne ọtẹn ni iran gba ga ruẹre? Ọkpa vbe usun emwi ne irẹn ru ọre wẹẹ, ọ na gha muẹn roro emwi ne Evbagbẹn Nọhuanrẹn khare nọ dekaan evbọzẹ na gha na mwẹ ayabọ. (Psalm 130:3, 4) Evbọ mobọ gu e Linda kpa ọre ne irẹn na rẹn wẹẹ, ma gha yabọ emwa, e Jehova ghi vbe yabọ ima. (Ẹfisọs 4:32–5:2) Vbe nọ dekaan vbene iziro vberriọ ya dekaan irẹn hẹ, ọ keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ọ na yevbe na miẹn wẹẹ e Jehova tobọre ẹrọ wa gha gu mwẹ guan.”

Vbọ ghi se ẹghẹ, e Linda na do sẹtin mu ohu fua. Ọ na ye ekhọe hia yabọ ọtẹn nokhuo nii, kevbe ọse ne kankankan ẹre irẹn vbe ọre ghi khin nia. Te Linda ghi mwẹ alaghodaro vbe ugamwẹ ọghe Jehova. Gha mwẹ ọnrẹn vbe ilẹkẹtin wẹẹ, Jehova hoo nọ ru iyobọ nuẹ vbe ya ru vberriọ.