Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Forgiveness

I have been struggling with forgiveness friends.

Forgiveness has never been an easy thing for me. Once someone wrongs me it's very hard for me to move on. If there has been an apology, forgiving is much easier. Still not easy, but easier. If there is no apology I just don't know what to do with the pain of being hurt.

I hold onto that pain. I stuff it deep down inside, but it breaks out every once and awhile.

I know the Bible calls us to forgive one another; to show each other the grace and mercy God Himself has bestowed on us. I just feel like I don't the practical application of forgiveness. I just don't know what it looks like. God has forgiven us, but our sin still saddens and hurts him.

I long to forgive, but how do you forgive when you still hurt? I've prayed for the pain to go away and the ability to truly forgive those who've wronged me. How do you forgive when the pain doesn't go away?

Does it just come down to choosing to love those people despite the fact they've hurt you? Even though it still hurts? At what point is enough, enough? God doesn't ever give up on us, but is there a point as Christians where we essentially give up on someone because all they do is hurt us? When is a relationship broken beyond forgiveness being enough? Can you forgive someone truly, but still end your relationship with them?

These are the questions I'm struggling to find answers to.

I was talking with Nick about this Sunday after church. Our pastor had preached on Matthew 5, specifically some of the beatitudes. It was Matthew 5:7 that really got me thinking;

"Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall receive mercy."

Our pastor went on to say that until you've been drastically wronged and have experienced having to bestow grace on someone you can never fully begin to understand what God's grace is really all about. You can't begin to know how monumentally huge His forgiveness of us is.

I feel like this is what I need to focus on. If God can forgive me for all of the wrongs I've done to Him, the wrongs I'm continually doing because of my sinful nature, then I need to find a way to forgive those who've wronged me. Even if there hasn't been an apology and probably never will be one.

You see I know what my goal is. I just haven't figured out how to actually let go of the pain.

Right now my answer is to pray more about it and search for answers in God's Word.

If you have suggestions of verses or even a book that could maybe help please leave me a comment.

I hope your week is starting off well. God bless friends!

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5 comments:

  1. forgiveness can be so so tough at times. I am so sorry you are going through all of that.
    It was something I needed to work through. This is what I recommend - a couple of my pastors wrote this amazing books that have changed lives!
    http://www.amazon.com/The-Supernatural-Power-Forgiveness-Discover/dp/0830757376

    The Supernatural Power of Forgivness by Jason and Kris Vallotton.

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  2. Very tough thing to do... but very rewarding... I always recommend joyce meyers. She is so good and so many of her principles can be applied in a variety of situations. The one I would recommend is Power thoughts. Changed my life!

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  3. Yes yes yes & yes! It's like you read my mind. I'm so sorry you're going through this and that you were hurt by someone.

    I have no idea what your situation is, but my best friend & I have had a huge falling out and haven't spoken in a month or two. I've been struggling so much with forgiveness and how to forgive her. James and I have talked a lot about essentially "giving up" on someone. God never ever gives up on us. And I'm SO beyond thankful for that. But sometimes a relationship becomes unhealthy and toxic. That's what happened with my friend, and a friendship with her is a painful and emotional rollercoaster I can't handle. I'll never give up on her and I'll always pray for her, but I think it's ok to at least remove myself from her and not continue to be used. Is that the best choice? I have no idea. I'm praying about it, and I'll pray for you too. It's tough, isn't it?? Matthew 18:21-22 says to forgive our brother or sister not 7, but 77 times. So for now, I would say to just pray for help forgiving and let Him work from there. That's all I can do. Praying for you, friend!

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