Running from Forgiveness

I can never forgive this person for what they have done! I remember vividly saying that about the man who had abused me when I was a child. For years I pushed people away because I was afraid of getting too close, too vulnerable, open to being hurt again. I held on to the forgiveness because then I had control! I wish that I had learned the truth about forgiveness earlier. Even after I had become a Christian this hidden area in my heart was difficult to let go of. I had been running for so long with the pain of what happened to me that I could not see, comprehend or experience the forgiveness that was offered to me.  If I couldn’t take it in than I could never extend it to someone else.

I was running because I knew what God’s word said. I was to forgive others in the same way that I had been forgiven. It’s straightforward, plain and simple, no doubt about it, we are called to forgive .

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 

Forgetting was difficult! He didn’t deserve forgiveness! Surely God was not asking me to forgive this man. But the closer I got to Jesus, the more I studied his word, it was clear that God was calling me to extend grace and forgiveness to someone else. That was not my plan and it made absolutely no sense to me. But isn’t that the way things are with the kingdom of God? It may seem like foolishness to others but God always has a plan and a purpose behind what He calls us to do. Often we run from forgiving others because it’s incomprehensible to us.

You can read more of my story here.

I’m not running from forgiving anymore. God has melted away that area and instead has replaced it with a new hope, purpose and joy. He has removed the barriers that had so long caged me in given me instead the ability to get close to others. If I would’ve kept on running,  I would have missed out on what God wanted to fill me with.

• Grace
• Hope
• Joy
• Peace
• and the ability to draw close to others.

It’s interesting that when we forgive others how much easier it is to except the forgiveness that Jesus offers to us.

Is there someone you need to forgive today? If you don’t have the strength to do it that’s okay because Jesus wants to come alongside of you and help you with that.

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I’d love to hear your story about forgiving someone and what happened because of it.