We have all been hurt at some point in time in our lives. Some of us have minor hurts and disappointments and there are some of us who have deep wounds that seem to work their way to the surface every now and then. Unfortunately, pain is just part of life. But it’s how we choose to deal with it and heal from it is what matters.
Forgive the Unforgivable
I think back to some of the pain I have endured throughout my life. Although, during that time it sure didn’t feel like it was shaping me into who I am today, but the fact is, it was. I held on to hurt and pain from my past for so long that I had become my own prisoner. Allowing the painful past to linger was doing nothing but pulling me backward. I had to finally forgive someone who was not sorry. I had to forgive the unforgivable.
I learned quickly that I needed to forgive in order to move on. As hard as it was I had to accept the fact that not everyone is sorry. But, this act of forgiveness was not for the person who hurt me. This act of forgiveness was for me. My inner peace and growth. I struggled with giving grace such as I receive daily from our Heavenly Father. I was holding on to hurt that I didn’t know could ever be forgiven. Hurt people, hurt people. That phrase played over and over in my head…and it was true. I was not hurting people intentionally but the hurt that I had experienced was flowing over in other ways to people that were dear to me.
Finally, it was time to forgive. Just as Colossians reminds us, “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive them as the Lord forgave you.”
“But God, I am the victim here, I didn’t do anything wrong.” How many times have we thought that? When we forgive others, we are not saying what they did was OK, but we are releasing them to God and letting go of it’s hold on us. That’s not saying you are weak. That’s truly giving it over to God because above all He will make it right, nothing you could ever scheme together will fix it. We have to just let it go and trust that God will fight our battle.
“For if you forgive people that sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you
do not forgive others their sins, God will not forgive you of your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
This passage from Matthew reminded me that I would not want God holding me hostage and not forgiving me for the things I had done in my time. Christ died for sinners like you and me so that we wouldn’t have to carry these heavy loads of pain and disappointment. I want to challenge you to let whatever it is weighing you down go. Give it to God. He can handle it,
this is what He died for. Let go and let God.
“Get rid of bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. Be
kind and compassionate to each other, just as Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
Life is too short to be bogged down by a hurtful past. Go out and enjoy the woman God created you to be.
Read also: The power of forgiveness
