I get very annoyed sometimes when I see people write on Instagram or Twitter ‘good friends are hard to come by;’ ‘leave so and so in 2015’, ‘why forgive them if they hurt you first?’ etc… you get the picture. I get annoyed by these things because unfortunately we live in a society that is sooo quick not to forgive the actions of others, but ridiculously quick to move on and still harbour bitterness about something that was said or done.
I want to encourage you GGF girls, to go against the grain of society when it says you shouldn’t forgive people’s actions because they have hurt you. Jesus – wonderful Jesus, teaches us that we should be at the ready to forgive because he first forgave us!
Here are a few truths about forgiveness:
Forgiveness is hard but it is not impossible! It isn’t a feeling, it is however a choice; a choice that eventually stops the cycle of blame and hurt.
Forgiveness is a process; often it takes time to forgive a person and in order to forgive you need to offer patience with yourself and with others.
We have established that forgiveness is difficult however, when we genuinely forgive, it can very humbling. For me it often highlights my own flaws – and I’m a pretty flawed individual but praise God he sent his son and we’ve been saved by His precious Grace! What I’m trying to say is, you must be willing to let go of the anger and the ‘right’ society says you have for vengeance. You have to come before God humbly, give it to him and remind yourself of the ridiculously NUMEROUS TIMES He has forgiven you!
Now, GGF girls, meditate on Colossians 3:12-13;
‘Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance with someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you;’
So daily you can walk with a non-burdensome heart that chooses to love.
