Matthew 6:14
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
I want to talk about a topic that is often difficult for many of us - forgiveness. More specifically, the struggle we sometimes face in forgiving others who have hurt us. We've all been wounded by others in some way or another - perhaps by harsh words, betrayal, or outright acts of harm. These experiences can leave deep scars in our hearts, causing us to hold onto bitterness and resentment.
The Bible, however, calls us to a higher standard. In
Ephesians 4:31-32, we are instructed, "Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be
kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ
forgave you." This is a beautiful and challenging command, but how do we
live it out, especially when the hurt runs deep?
Firstly, we need to understand what forgiveness is and what
it is not. Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt did not happen or allowing
others to continue hurting us. It is not about denying our pain or suppressing
our emotions. Rather, forgiveness is a conscious decision to release the person
who has wounded us from the debt of our revenge. It is about letting go of our
right to get even and choosing to leave justice in the hands of God.
Remember, forgiveness is not a feeling, but a decision. It
is a choice we make, not because the person deserves it, but because we are
called to reflect the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who forgave us
of so much more.
Secondly, we must remember that forgiveness is a process. It
is not a one-time event, but a journey. There will be days when the pain
resurfaces, and the feelings of resentment creep back in. On these days, we
must choose to forgive again. We must continually surrender our hurt and our
desire for revenge to God, asking Him to heal our wounded hearts.
Finally, we must lean on God's strength. Forgiving someone
who has deeply hurt us is not easy, and we cannot do it in our own strength. We
need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. We need to pray, asking God to
give us a heart that is willing to forgive, just as He has forgiven us.
Forgiveness is not about letting the person who hurt us off
the hook, but about setting our hearts free from the bondage of bitterness and
resentment. It is a difficult journey, but a necessary one if we want to walk
in the fullness of God's love and grace.
Remember, our God is a God of forgiveness. He forgave us
when we were still sinners. He forgave us when we nailed Him to the cross. If
He, in His infinite holiness, can forgive us of our sins, can we not also
extend forgiveness to those who have hurt us?
May the Lord grant us the grace to forgive as we have been
forgiven. May He heal our wounded hearts and fill us with His love and mercy.
And may we reflect His forgiveness in our interactions with others, showing the
world the amazing grace of our God. God bless you all.