Through the years the most frequently asked question centers around why someone should forgive another who is not in their eyes deserving of it. Admittedly it is difficult to do. Especially if they reject your offer right out of the chute. Perhaps you were beaten as a child, or spouse or otherwise physically or sexually abused as a child or some other heinous act. The list is long and I don’t have room to list all the depravity of the world here, but you get the drift.
What is forgiveness? Forgiveness means different things to different people. It involves an intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger. The act that hurt or offended you might always be with you. But working on forgiveness can lessen that act’s grip on you. I am often asked what should I do to rid myself of it? Many say that they think about it on a routine basis and it keeps their lives tied in a knot. There cannot be closure without forgiveness. Jesus told us we must forgive because God loves sinner and righteous both and we shoulld emulate the Father in that arena. We say, Yeah but You don’t know what he has done”. Oh really. The all seeing and all powerful God doesn’t see someone being abused or otherwise damaged? Perish that thought!
Not enough credit is given to God in these matters. He is prepared to mete out punishment to those who refuse to repent by making them miserable all their life and then sending them to hell. He wants everyone to repent however, make no mistake He will punish sin and that includes those who reject His Son.
But it still doesn’t tell us how to go about it. If one takes the Bible as a whole and nothing is omitted from the context, you will realize that the Holy Spirit lives within us and desires the same thing as the Father. It is through Him that we obtain the courage to forgive those who have wronged us. In some cases we must pray hard to overcome the satanic barriers. Satan wants us to go to our grave holding a grudge. Don’t allow him to prevent you from getting your peace.
I forgave my father from ministering terrible abuse to me when I was a youngster. I felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from me when I did. My only regret was waiting, literally for years gritting my teeth and being furious about it before God prompted me to forgive him. We ended up being good friends by the time he passed away.
I close by saying forgiveness has nothing to do with forgetting what happened to you. One can forgive but the Bible doesn’t say anything about forgetting.Today I look at it like it as a lesson learned that helped formed my character that will never be forgotten. Life’s hard lessons stengthen our character and if handled correctly will make us strong for the enirety of our lives.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” It’s important to remember that forgiveness scriptures like Matthew 6:14 remind us that, since God forgives us, we, too, must offer forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.