Nothing Like Forgiveness
I have a really hard time forgiving people. And when I mean forgiving people, I mean actually forgiving them. Like forgiving them in my heart. I can say the words to them and I can act like I forgive them, but at the end of the day, I’m still hurt. And I’ve been trying to work on that.
If you know me at all, you know that I always wear my heart on my sleeve. And let me tell you, when you wear your heart on your sleeve, it gets damaged really easily. And when it’s damaged really easily, it’s hard to forgive who hurt you.
When really thinking about it, Jesus doesn’t want us to continue to have hate and hurt in our hearts. John 13:34-35 says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Sometimes I’m not being a good disciple because I don’t love the people who hurt me in my heart. But that’s the reason why Jesus called us to be disciples, to love others and show others His love. Which means forgiving people who might have hurt you.
I’m still learning and still trying to be a good disciple of Christ, but a lot of the time I fall short. The thing that keeps me going is John 13:34-35. I try to replace the words “one another” with the person’s name that hurt me. I may have to repeat it over and over, but eventually (and it takes me a LONG time to get here) I get to a better place with them.
Forgiveness is hard, but having Jesus in our hearts and trying to show His love makes it a little bit easier.
- Shattered Glass - August 25, 2017
- Rising Tides Raise All Ships - January 19, 2017
- Daughter of a King - December 14, 2016
Unfortunately you get that trait from you father (i.e. Me). Reading this was heartbreaking and inspiring to me at the same time. I wish that you did not have the problem you expressed, but I am happy you realize it is not the way God wants us to be and you are taking steps to improve. I promise to work harder on this problem area for me as well using the suggestion from my 21 year old daughter! Just goes to show you that even an old man like me always has something to learn. Thank my sweet!
Forgiveness is hard. But there are so many things that, without Jesus, would be hard, even impossible for us mere mortals to accomplish. Just keep giving it over to God, Katie! It will always come…even if not in the perfect timing we want it to!! So much to learn before we reach perfection in heaven, right?
What a great & practical idea to insert the perdon’s name into Scripture. Keeps us personally accountable, & reminds me that my name is all to often in that blank when God deals with me.
Katie,
Diane said exactly what I was thinking. Agree with you so much that forgiving is hard…REALLY hard. I think it’s right up there for me…as one of the hardest…because we think about how much we have been forgiven!! But then there’s grace…and God is the one who can do in our hearts what we cannot do ourselves.pretty awesome!