Do you struggle to forgive someone? I understand the challenge of forgiving a troublesome person. Forgiveness isn’t easy. My first instinct is to lash out and cause them emotional discomfort. But this gets me nowhere.
For example, when my ex-wife wanted divorce devastation emerged. Shock set in, and I couldn’t grasp the reality of a permanent separation. After the divorce papers arrived it become real.
This enraged me and took years to forgive her.
In fact, bitterness and resentments blocked my ability to forgive. I refused to let go of the emotional anguish and stayed on an eight-year drunk drowning those hurt feelings. My anger towards her coupled with alcohol abused led to self-destructive behaviors.
I thought of suicide and wanted to die. One day in desperation I asked for God’s help. God intervened and delivered me from evil.
First, God provided me the strength to get and stay sober. Then the Lord introduced His Son, Jesus Christ.
As the result of Jesus, my life changed.
You must wonder how I overcame my forgiveness dilemma?
I found the solution in Christ’s forgiveness.
Here’s the interesting part of Jesus. When He forgave me, it opened my eyes to forgiveness.
Even with this new outlook on letting go of sinful thoughts forgiving her stayed elusive. It took time to reach the point of forgiveness.
What was my solution?
Prayer.
So, through prayer, I connected with God, and He showed me His forgiveness through the death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son Christ Jesus.
I think you’ll agree with me when I say Christ died for the forgiveness of sin. How awesome is that? Jesus paid the price.
If God sacrificed His Son to forgive humanity, then I must do the same!
With this in mind, it allowed me to see the trespasses I did to her. And when I repented of my sins in the marriage, it became easy to forgive her.
And the best part is the grace God gives when we forgive others. This spiritual truth makes forgiveness worth the effort because it connects us with the Holy Spirit freeing us from a hardened heart. So, the more we live in His Spirit, the stronger our bond with Christ leading away from an unforgiving soul.
Walter,
I could just say, “yep, me too.” I had so many false starts when I tried to forgive. I thought they should change because of my forgiveness. When they didn’t, I’d get all mad again. That’s because my forgiveness was nothing like the way Jesus forgives. My biggest revelation came when I realized I truly had forgiven my dad and yet dad had not changed at all. I knew then that the power to forgive was given by God.
Thanks again for a good read.
deb
Deb,
Thanks for sharing your forgiveness testimony. It’s powerful full of the Holy Spirit. I’m with you when I know I really forgave someone. God never leaves us doubting when He’s pleased with our willingness to truly let go and love those we had trouble with. Thanks for your honesty and faith.