I am convinced that when we experience disappointment that comes from unmet expectations, it has the potential to throw our lives off track more than anything else we face. Hebrews 12:15 tells us: “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

We cannot change what people do to us or say about us, but we can receive grace from the Lord to live in freedom from bitterness. This is our choice. At any time we can go back to where we experienced unmet expectations and disappointment and forgive and release those who hurt us and experience freedom.

We simply need to make a decision to forgive and release those who hurt us. Remember, forgiving someone does not mean what they did was right. It may have been completely wrong. And forgiveness does not mean we now will trust the person who hurt us. Forgiving someone and trusting someone are completely different things. We forgive others because our God has forgiven us and we release them to God (Matt. 6:14,15). Forgiving others and receiving our God’s grace and healing will bring us into true freedom.