If you are like most people you probably hold some sort of resentment towards someone. We have all at one time been hurt by someone either physically or emotionally or gotten angry and said things that caused us and the people involved to be hurt. Maybe everyone walked away in a civilized manner after apologizing, but more than likely you all walked away hurt and angry carrying a grudge. Sometimes saying sorry and forgiving each other just does not happen. The Lord tells us to forgive them even if they are not sorry. The reason being is because forgiveness is about your own healing. We forgive because the Lord forgives us.

Trust me when I say, I know how hard it is to forgive someone that has wronged you. I know how hard it is to forgive someone who was not sorry and will never be sorry for what they did, but God wants us to. When we start to pray about the situation and ask God to help us forgive the person who hurt you, we are able to see them and the situation through God’s eyes. It may not change what has happened, especially if it was a very painful situation. But it will change your heart and that is what matters.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

We really only have two choices when we are put in this situation. We can either hold in the anger and resentment which will soon become toxic to our health and well being, or we can be Christ like and forgive them, even if they are not sorry. But don’t get me wrong. I am not saying to walk up to the person who wronged you and say something snappy like, “Listen you were a big jerk and the things you said really made me angry, so I am going to forgive you even though you aren’t sorry because I am the better Christian.” Haha. Seriously though. What I mean is, go to God. Tell Him about your situation (even though he already knows) and let Him speak to your heart and lead you. Ask Him to forgive you for your part if you had something to do with the situation and then ask Him to heal your heart and let you forgive the person who wronged you. Let go and let Him take over from there. Do not take it back once you lay it at His feet. You will feel freedom when you let Him heal the situation.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

One last thing that you may not have thought of when you saw the words forgiveness, is that you should not forget to forgive yourself! For all your past sins and mistakes, whatever they may be because the Lord has! Don’t let the devil tell you otherwise. He wants to make you feel worthless and dirty and that you are not deserving of God’s love and forgiveness, but you are! Jesus died for you to know that! He died for you to be free from all your mistakes when you seek Him and His will. If we forgive ourselves, we are less likely to make the same mistakes again and we are more likely to continue down the right path. The Lord has forgiven us the moment we repent and seek His forgiveness so please don’t let the enemy tell you otherwise. 

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Have a wonderful week, sweet friends!

xo,

Elizabeth