let's talk: forgiveness

Hey long time, no see!

Something that has been on my heart recently is forgiveness. Some people may say that forgiveness means you are saying that what someone did was okay or that you must "forgive and forget", but that is not how God designed forgiveness. It opens our hearts for more love and allows us to let go of ill feelings. Forgiveness is definitely a virtue that I have seen grow in my heart over that past couple of years. It can be so hard- LIKE SO extremely difficult and something we do not want to do. It can be something we do not think people deserve from us. Something that we think we can not just freely offer.

...But God freely offers (and wants to) forgive all of us?!

As Christians, we are called to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Forgive one another, just as God forgave you.”

Imagine all the times in your life you have made mistakes, regretted something, or hurt someone. Recall that heavy feeling of guilt and feeling as if you are a horrible person. God does not want us to feel this way! He forgives all of our wrongdoings and relieves that sense of guilt. (BTW: the feeling of guilt comes from the devil; he wants us to believe there is no way we can come back from our mistakes- He a liar fr.) Remember, there is a difference between guilt and conviction. God always wants His people to come to Him and be made new (even if it's time and time again!) He makes us new every morning of every day!!!

Now, if the perfect God of Heaven and Earth forgives you, don’t you think you owe it to Him to forgive mere humans? I know it is easier said than done, and I am even still learning all that encompasses forgiveness, but I do know in my heart that forgiveness is so good and freeing. Forgiveness is for others, for the Lord, AND for yourself!!! God devotes eternal peace to us because of our willingness to forgive. Forgiveness (in all regards- forgiving others, forgiving ourselves, and God forgiving us) allows us to be completely restored from our regrets, mistakes, and hurt. It creates hope.

Matthew 5:23-24 says “It is very important to be reconciled with people and be the bigger person in every situation. God always wants us, but we will be more fulfilled if we are at peace with one another.” Let me just be the first to say, I have been SO petty and revengeful in my past. It is not something I am proud of, but I am willing to be honest about it because most of us have definitely been this way towards someone who has hurt us. If a guy hurt me, you already knowwwww I wanted Him to feel how I felt. Being petty or getting revenge may feel powerful in the moment, but it is one of the most unfulfilling things in the world and is most certainly not from God. It makes someone else suffer, and causes suffering, regret, and guilt upon yourself.

These responses and reactions simply just lead to more pain and hurt among everyone.

I have learned in my life that “hurt people, hurt people.” I do not believe that anyone is inherently born evil, but it is the things in this fallen world that alter who people are and what they are capable of. This is some aspect of how I have found my heart to become more open to forgive. God has directly shown me that when people have hurt me, that there is also something that hurt them. Does this mean that what they did to me was acceptable or okay? Absolutely not. But it is not our job, as mere humans, to punish those who have wronged us. We also do not have to ever forget what someone did to us. God wants us to protect our hearts, yet we do not have to hold something against someone forever.

In Romans 12:19-20, Paul says this:

“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.

On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.”

God is the ultimate judge and it is His power and authority to judge every person who comes before Him. He will give the evil what they deserve. We may not understand why someone did what they did, but we are not always meant to have all of the answers and understanding! I am someone who always wants to know why someone did what they did to me, but I have learned to give my pain, anger, and questions to God because I know that He knows why everything happened the way it did and He will take care of it all. In the end, God gives everyone what they deserve.

God sent Jesus down as man to live a life with all of the qualities that we should be trying to imitate in our lives today. Jesus did not judge or seek revenge on sinners. He was loving, forgiving, and compassionate. As you walk around with your “WWJD” accessories, take time to truly think about if what you are doing is really what He would have done. Our job, as brothers and sisters in Christ, is to respond to hurt with love, grace, and forgiveness- just as Jesus did. This is the best possible response, even when we do not want to forgive or think we can. Peter says "In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head." The gift of forgiveness (PLUS praying for those who have hurt you) can help people feel convicted and actually lead them to change and become better human beings.

Peter goes on to say in verse 21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It takes SO much more strength to forgive someone than it does to be petty and revengeful.

This is why forgiveness can be so hard!! I have experienced this so many times in my life when I am frustrated and upset. God reminds me “Gracie, you need to forgive them.” Sometimes, I find myself wanting to go back to my old behavior because it is easier just to be petty, but I want to do right by God and be as much like Jesus as I possibly can. Just because something may be easier, does not mean that it is right. God will plant the love and strength in your heart to forgive, if you just go to Him and pray for it. He always comes through and provides for His people.

Again, in Romans, Peter says in 12:18, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Even when others have hate and revenge in their hearts, they do not have to cause you to act the same and fight fire with fire. The strongest and most powerful thing you can do is forgive. That is your job.

I can truly say that I have been able to completely forgive so many people and, even myself, throughout different seasons of my life. Forgiveness is so fulfilling and has brought such a change of perspective to my life and my walk with Christ. I could definitely go on and on and include 1000 more bible verses, but I will stick with this for now! I encourage you to open your bible and absorb the wisdom behind forgiveness. I hope you can take something from this post and apply it to your personal life and journey with God!

VERSES:

Ephesians 4:32

Matthew 5:23-24

Romans 12:18-21