As Christian we are taught that if we confess we are forgiven, but I don't think we totally believe that. As humans we struggle with forgiveness, so we can't understand how easily He gives it to us. Be honest with yourself, when was the last time you totally forgave someone? I mean totally forgave, no grudge, forgot totally about it, never brought it up again, let it go from your mind, acted like it never happened? If your like me, I am not sure that I have ever forgiven someone like that, but He does. Totally forgiven, gone from sight, never to be held against you.
What about forgiving yourself? Are you better or worse at forgiving yourself or others? I fail at both issues, but I think I carry a grudge against myself longer. I wish I didn't know how heavy guilt is and how it makes your shoulders hurt, but I do. So if we can't even forgive ourselves, we certainly can't understand how the Creator of the universe would care enough to forgive us. So what do we do?
I am struggling with forgiveness right now and it's hard to let go and forgive. The person that I need to forgive did something terrible and I just can't get past the pain it has cause me and my family, but what is the unforgiveness doing to my heart? It's wearing a hole in it, that's what.
People tell me that this is not a simple situation so it won't be simple to forgive, but this pain in my heart is full of resentment, and anger and ready to boil over at anytime. In fact it did boil over the other night and the people in my way got a direct hit. Then I had to apologize and ask for forgiveness, this is one vicious circle!
I don't pretend to be Him and thank goodness I am not Him, but I continue to pray for His heart in this situation, because it will only be with His heart I will be able to forgive.
Do you have unforgiveness deep in your heart? Are you struggling with anger or hurt that you just can't let go? Are you holding a grudge against someone you love or even yourself?
I know that it is difficult but keeping hold of it is eating away at you and it will turn you into someone you won't like. My advice is to pray and turn it over to Him.
This is my prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, I give this hurt and anger over to You. I don't want to carry this burden any longer. I know that from time to time I will try to pick it up and carry it again, but gently remind me that You have control over it now and You don't need my help. I know Your grace and mercy is for all who ask, I pray that you extend your mercy to my aggressor, show them Your love and kindness and give me Your heart to do the same. In Your precious Son's name...Amen
1. If HE can forgive you, then who are you not to forgive yourself.
ReplyDelete2. I forgave too many times when I shouldnt have. gone. forgotten...and I have paid a heafty price for that. Sometimes forgiveness is not warranted immediately and certainly not deserved.
3. When the pain from the original hurt no longer hurts, then you have gotten to a point where forgiveness is warranted. You ain't there yet kid, give yourself a break. Its been hard. It may even be harder yet. But you need not hold a grudge against yourself...because like I said, if HE can forgive you then who do you think you are??? love you.
I am with you Rachael, I have forgiven many times especially in this situation only to have it thrown back at me, so just another reason to hold on to forgiveness. The pain may never go away, but talking and blogging helps. And your right if He can forgive, I should as well, but I am not Him and can only pray that I get His heart of forgiveness.
ReplyDeletejust read the best quote about unforgiveness --- "Unforgiveness is like drinking poison, expecting it to kill the other person."
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