Forgiveness

A wise person once told me that forgiveness means to completely move past the situation that has upset you and your feelings are now joy and peace from God. We are responsible to forgive them and accept an apology from them even if one is not given. That does not mean we have to forget the pain we went through. But I can almost guarantee that once you forgive, you will forget the pain.

To forgive means to love them as Christ loves us and it means to completely be at peace with them and the situation. I was also reminded that love holds no wrongs and covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Once I forgive them, I am completely giving that person a clean slate and I am no longer able to bring up the past regarding the things I have forgiven them about. We are told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 19:19). It does not say “Only love your neighbor that has done no wrongs to you and hate the ones that upset you or did something to hurt you.” I think we get that scripture confused sometimes. It specifically says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” I know some people like to say they don’t love their self so they do not have to love the other person, but let’s be real. You love yourself enough to buy yourself things. To work at your job for money so you can live in your house or drive your car. Right?

There really is not a actual excuse you could use as to why you shouldn’t forgive someone. Trust me, I tried using so many excuses over the years as to why I shouldn’t forgive someone or that the hurt was so bad I couldn’t bring myself to even think about forgiveness. But, when you can release that anger, frustration, awkwardness around them, and free your soul from the hatred you might feel.. Jesus will give you so much peace and happiness it’s hard to be upset. I can’t even figure out how to describe the feelings you get when you can look at someone you have had so much grief and upsetting situations with and all you do is just smile at the fact that you have moved past those hard memories and your memory is replaced with happiness and peace from God. It really is amazing and it’s so exciting to realize how far you have come.

Forgiveness is not easy, don’t get me wrong. It requires you to become vulnerable and accept the fact that someone hurt you and you have to work through those emotions to be able to forgive them and move on. You have to ask God what has caused you to be upset with this person and you have to make a daily habit of asking God to take those thoughts captive that keep coming back to you reminding you why you were mad in the first place. The enemy is going to put tid bits in your head every time you try to pray for forgiveness. He is going to play them in your head like a movie and remind you why you hate them in the first place. You immediately have to pray and say, “I am taking those thought captive and will no longer allow that to be apart of my day.” Once you say that each time over and over, the thoughts will stop. I promise they will. It took me consciously saying that in my head over and over like a broken record every day; Usually more than once a day. Because honestly, what are those thoughts helping with? Literally nothing. They are just reminding you about the negatives and no fruit is coming from that to help you grow in your faith. It’s the enemies trick to persuade you that you cannot get over what they have done. He wants you to dwell in that situation for years and years if he can keep you. Do not allow him to do that to you. You are strong and you can overcome any obstacle with Gods help.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Matthew 6:14 For you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

The bible talks a lot about forgiveness and every time it points back to the fact that we must forgive or God will not forgive us. Can you imagine being questioned by God as to why you didn’t forgive someone and held on to that angry for so long? Or him ask you why should he forgive the things you have done in your life if you will not forgive one person?

Don’t let one small thing that upset you cause you to miss the whole picture of what God can do in your life. Unforgiveness is like an elephant sitting on your chest. Once you forgive and move one, you will be free to move in life and be able to breath.

Much Love,
Charity