Hope Through Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be such a difficult action. I’ve heard many different thoughts about forgiveness. I do not in any way claim to be an expert in this area but what I do want to do is testify to you how I have received and practiced forgiveness in my own life. Also, to testify of how this has brought healing and freedom in my life.  

I’ve had several circumstances as I’m sure you have too where I have had to walk out forgiveness. I’ve walked through many disappointments in life, rejection and even sexual abuse as a child. For many years I walked around with unforgiveness and bitterness. All this did was keep me trapped in darkness. 

What I finally came to learn is forgiveness is a choice. It is NOT a feeling! You choose to forgive and then there comes the process of healing from the hurt that is attached to the offense requiring forgiveness. Sometimes we do have those suddenlies in life where God suddenly heals our wounded heart and then there are those times we have to faithfully walk out our healing. I’ve experienced both. Walking out your healing comes by making a moment by moment choice to forgive the person who brought the offense. This means choosing to forgive each time you face this person or are triggered by the memory. 

As I was processing all of this the Holy Spirit showed me that forgiveness is like a muscle. The more you use it the stronger it becomes. To be healthy we need to exercise our muscles (use them). Forgiveness works the same way. We are often faced with offenses that give us an opportunity to exercise this muscle/forgiveness. Some are small offensives and others are big offenses leading to BIG hurt. Big or small we have a choice in that moment to extend grace through forgiveness or get angry and enter into a cage of darkness. Peace and joy come through choosing to forgive. High blood pressure, bitterness and anxiety come when we don’t. I don’t know about you but I want to live with peace and joy.

I want to make it clear that forgiveness does not mean excusing the offense or opening the door to re-experience abuse. Forgiveness is just for you!!! NO ONE ELSE!!!! If someone else experiences healing through your forgiveness…PRAISE GOD!!!! But it is not your responsibility to heal them. Only God can do that. God calls us to forgive so he can live in communion and intimacy with us.  

We cannot talk about forgiveness without taking a look at what Christ did for us on the cross. The Bible says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9.  Speaking for myself I could fill up this page and many more with all the sins Christ has forgiven. I have not deserved his forgiveness yet he freely gave his life on the cross to release you and I from our debt of sin. There is absolutely nothing you or I could do in the natural to overcome our sins. But because of the cross we can walk in confidence, not in shame. The amazing part of this is Jesus did not deserve to face the torture he recieved on the cross but he did this out of love for ALL of us. “ALL”!!! That means there is nothing you have done or could ever do that can not be forgiven by Christ.

So I want to challenge you today to make a choice to forgive. No matter how hard it might seem, just make a conscious choice to release the offense and forgive. God is right there close to you waiting to take it. He will handle the consequences of the offender. God reminds us in Romans 12:19 AMP to never avenge ourselves but to leave the way open for God’s wrath. He says “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” 

I remember some months ago I was faced with a deep hurt from someone I really loved. I didn’t understand. I wanted to explain myself. I wanted them to understand how much they hurt me but I daily chose to forgive in my heart. I prayed for this person and not long ago I saw the fruit of my choice to forgive. But most importantly God did a miraculous healing in my heart. The relationship is not the same but I’m walking in complete freedom and my heart has been healed from the deep hurt. When I see this person the sting is no longer there. God taught me through this experience to just stay faithful. Faithful in forgiveness. 

I’ve come to experience hope through forgiveness. Hope that has brought restoration and a revelation of intimacy with my Abba father. There is no greater freedom than what comes from forgiveness. So let HOPE arise inside of you today and choose to forgive!!!!! You will not be disappointed. God loves you deeply and his hope for you is that you will live life to its fullness. RELEASE THE HURT TO GOD….CHOOSE TO FORGIVE!!!!