Life Changed: Forgiveness

Forgiveness  Many of us carry around the weight of unforgiveness. Some because we don’t know how to forgive. Others because we are unwilling to let go of what has been said and done to us. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what was done was ok, but unforgiveness only offers us bitterness, anger, hate, and pride. If we’re not careful, our past hurts can shape our lives and destroy us from the inside out.  To live in the freedom that Christ has for us, we have to learn how to forgive and shed the heaviness that comes from holding onto our pain. While our natural tendency is to push away the discomfort and challenge of forgiving, as Christ followers, we’re called to lean into it. Working through the things in our past with God is what enables us to move forward.  Unfortunately, it’s not a one-time process. Forgiveness is a constant part of our lives. It’s something we have to work on every day as new offenses happen. Business relationships require grace, so we’re not working in a toxic environment. Marriage is a constant ebb and flow of humility. And sometimes, we need to forgive ourselves for the mistakes we’ve made, realizing we don’t have to hold onto something God has already forgiven.  The reality is everyone is wounded. We all have hurts that color the way we see the world and cause us to respond the way we do. But we can’t use our hurts as an excuse for bad behavior. Not when God is waiting patiently for us to give him our pain, so He can heal us. Dealing with old wounds, on our own, can be overwhelming. Hurtful words and actions, both big and small, can pile up into something seemingly insurmountable. But the truth is, nothing is impossible with our God! As you read through this plan, choose just one thing you’ve struggled to forgive and keep it in mind. You may need to follow this process several times to work through all your wounds—piece by piece and layer by layer. You don’t have to take it on all at once. Start with something small, and work toward your biggest hurts.