I get more emails asking for advice on how to forgive and forget than any other subject. It’s obvious to me that it is nearly impossible for many folks to forgive much less forgive. Everyone wants to avenge, but the Lord said leave it to Him. To be honest I don’t think I can turn the other cheek if someone slaps me there. I can however let some things go that twenty years ago I would have fought to the death over.
I don’t think I will ever reach a point whereby I will allow someone to slap my cheek without retaliation. I realize that Jesus was trying to make a point in that verse, but unless someone is a masochist, I don’t think it is possible. I’m just being candid and transparent..
I’ll be the first to say I don’t understand that logic. I’m not saying Jesus was wrong in doing so, I am saying it seems like an impossible demand. I recently found that I was a descendant of the Vikings. Perhaps that is an explanation for my warlike stance. I watched the television series on the Vikings recently and my wife told me I could have been one.
Ouch!
I’m just making a point that I am the last person that you should take advice from on this important subject. The problem as I see is Jesus said here is the command, now go do it, but He does not tell us how. I try to envision someone slapping me and then me offering the other cheek for the same treatment, but I see me reacting with physical violence..
It reminds me of how James said we should be happy and treat it as pure joy when we undergo and are suffering from trials. It seems like an oxymoron to me, but I have made good progress in obeying that one. I accept there will be things that I cannot change so why worry about them? We must just grin and bear it and hope it will end soon. I see improvement daily with every trial I go through, so I know I’m progressing.
I know that Jesus does not want us to exact revenge, retaliate, or avenge. He said, “I will repay!”. And I believe that, hence when I take matters in my own hands I know I am guilty of sin. I’m sorry for that and I repent to the extent that I’m capable. It is one of those things that I continue to think about almost on a daily basis. Sigh . . .
At any rate you might direct your questions about forgiveness elsewhere. I am not good at it and even worse at trying to forget. I ask you to pray that I will make a breakthrough in this area.
Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”