When we are wronged by others...
I think one of the hardest things for a Christian to do is truly forgive someone that has really wronged them. At least it is for me. It's completely natural to be hurt and angry when someone wrongs us. It actually proves just how human we really are. Getting hurt really brings out our human selfishness. We tend to only think about how WE are affected and OUR personal view point on the matter. We tend to want to hold on to our anger as a protection mechanism. Of course we never stop and think about how the person that wronged us are also just human, and like any other human, makes plenty of mistakes.
Why is it so difficult to forgive?
Maybe lacking the ability to forgive is a lacking in our faith? I believe that the act of forgiveness is an act of faith. It doesn't come naturally for us as humans to forgive and let go. We HAVE to rely on God to really bring us through it. Without His help, we can't succeed. Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God and if we have faith and truly forgive, He will honor our obedience.
"Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you." - Corrie Ten Boom (Christian Holocaust survivor)
When we choose not to truly forgive, we can not let go of the wrong that was done to us. We dwell on it, we continue to hold grudges, we continue to be angry, and we continue to hurt. When we decide to release it to God and really forgive, only then will our hearts be set free. He will change our hearts and only then are we able to move forward.
Giving it God...
"Sincere forgiveness isn't colored with expectations that the other person apologize or change. Don't worry whether or not they finally understand you. Love them and release them." - Sara Paddison
One of my biggest faults are my expectations. Why should I be expected to forgive this person that has wronged me? It drives me nuts to no end that I am expected to forgive somebody that can't see the wrong that they have done! That they will just keep on being the same person that is capable of such wrongful acts...that I am the one who has to change. I take it upon myself to expect an apology or a change in that person before I can truly forgive and forget. But, that's not what forgiveness is all about. That's our selfishness creeping back in again. And that's where our faith comes into play. We have to believe that once we release it to God, that He will take care of the rest. It's not our responsibility to see that the person who has wronged us understands their actions or even is punished for those actions.
'Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.' - Romans 12:19
Forgive and forget...
I will be the first to admit that I have always said, "I can forgive, but I can't forget".
I've heard it said, "What if God chose not to forget the things that He has forgiven us for?" Of course a response to that has always been, "Well, I'm not God and He doesn't expect us to be perfect." No, He doesn't expect us to be perfect, but He expects a lot more from us than excuses because we are still resentful and not willing to let go. Let's face it, CHOOSING not to forget, is CHOOSING to hold onto the anger and hurt.
He also COMMANDS us to forgive one another...
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:14-15
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." - Mark 11:25
That's pretty clear to me.
I have struggled in this area and am learning through God how to be the person that I am called to be. I can't succeed in anything without His help!
Forgiveness is a process that we have to continue to work at all the time, but if we have faith and give everything over to God...then will we begin to see what He has in store for us.
0 comments:
Post a Comment