So, what can we do to be free? How do we break the chains, unlock the door and escape this prison
in our heart? God gives us an answer
that is pretty scary – we are told to forgive.
“If you forgive other
people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Matthew 6:14
Now, I know what you are thinking! “But, how can I forgive
this person? You don’t know what they did!” or “The pain is too deep”, or “This
person doesn’t deserve forgiveness!”
Those are all absolutely valid reasons, and I understand, really I do. But, what I have learned by choosing to
forgive the person who has hurt me so deeply, is that she no longer has control
over me and even if I never see her again, I am free to move forward.
I love how Corrie Ten Boom put it following her imprisonment
in Ravensbruck concentration camp during World War II - “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function
regardless of the temperature of the heart.” Corrie was in pain. She had suffered greatly, but she chose to
forgive her captors even though she was grieving, and in turn, triumphed over
her suffering.
When we forgive someone, it doesn’t mean that we accept his
or her abuse. It doesn’t mean they are
“off the hook”. Rather, it means that we
have entrusted them into our Father’s hands.
He is the Good Judge, and we can trust that He will work perfectly in
every situation.
“Cast your cares on
the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Psalm 55:22
Let’s cast our cares on Him and be sustained by the Lord!
Trusting His righteousness,
Joan
“Forgiveness is
unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing you were the prisoner.”
Unknown.
- Monday, February 20, 2017
- 21 Comments
