Forgive and forget. Just let it go. Bless your enemies.
Is it all easier said than done?
Maybe you’re currently in a situation where you know you need to forgive someone who has really hurt you but are having a hard time releasing that forgiveness.
What if they never say sorry or ask for forgiveness, do I still need to forgive them?
YES. YEs. Yes. yes. Echoes of yes reverberating through the gates of your heart and soul.
YES, but I want to say NO. It’s not about what You want, it’s about what He did for you on the cross.
As Jesus’ blood dripped from His brow and His face was unrecognizable and His wounds were deep, but His heart break was deeper still, He withheld nothing – not His love, not His grace, not His forgiveness, He gave His all, in those searing, soothing, and saving words:
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
When you realize how much you’ve been forgiven by God, that while you were still a sinner Christ died for you, there is no way you won’t be able to forgive those who’ve hurt, offended or sinned against you.
Forgiveness is a 70x7 type of lifestyle, not just a one time thing.
It is a daily choice, a choosing to say, “Yes, God, I will choose the narrow road, I will choose forgiveness, not because it’s easy, but because I love You, and I know how much I’ve been forgiven by You. Please help me not to deny others what has freely been given to me.”
Bravely go ahead and start this lifestyle of forgiveness, one step at a time, one obedient choice at a time, one humble bow in prayer, one courageous, “Yes, I forgive you” at a time. Even if it comes in whispers, He sees, and He honors that whisper. He takes that whisper and blows upon the ashes and breathes His life into that quiet whisper, until FORGIVENESS rings loud for all to hear – you, them, everyone.
The pain is deep, and forgiveness doesn’t deny the pain, but it heals the pain. Choosing to withhold forgiveness will only withhold your healing too. Perhaps it’s when the heart has just been broken, when the wound is still searing, and the blood is still flowing, when forgiveness flows out more easily than a wound, a hurt, a pain, that has been covered, but not healed.
Letting go or forgiving someone does not mean denying the hurt or pretending like the pain doesn’t exist, it’s giving yourself permission to move forward into your destiny and not to be chained to your past. It’s choosing to uncover the secret wounds and to expose the hurts under the protection, presence, and healing of Jesus Christ where your broken heart will be loved back into life and your memories restored in the presence of the Ultimate Forgiver.
So forgive, dear friend, because you are too precious to live without the peace of Christ, you are too loved to not forgive much, you are too beautiful to sit in the ashes of the past.
Forgive the man who walked out on you when he promised you forever.
Forgive the friend who abandoned you at your loneliest.
Forgive the father who didn’t protect you.
Forgive the mother who didn’t nurture you.
Forgive the sister who betrayed your trust.
Forgive the brother who bruised your heart.
Forgive yourself.
Vindication belongs to Him. He sees your hurt, your tears, and your aches. His name is Justice and He has the final say.
There’s a saying that goes, “Hurt people, hurt people.” In that mode, I say that, loved people, love people, and forgiven people, forgive people, and since you have been forgiven much, you can love much, and since you have been loved much, you too can forgive much.
It is possible, dear brother and dear sister, to forgive. It is more than possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray you receive revelation of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness lavished upon you.
Close your eyes and open your heart. See the hurt and release the pain. See the burn and release the ashes. See the cut and release the blood. See the knot and release the tie. See the wound and release the medicine. See the pain and release the healing.
The day for forgiveness is NOW.
Exchange your pain for His freedom. Exchange your hurt for His healing. Exchange your ashes for His beauty.
Sometimes, all that is left are the ashes of the past, of what once was, and as you stand on the threshold of the end and a new beginning, the hardest and first step is forgiveness, of those you hurt and those who hurt you. Lay it all behind. Let it all go. Loosen your grip.
What is ahead is far greater than what is left behind. Hold on to Hope, hold on to Him. Forgiveness is free but withholding it comes at a cost.
What will you choose today?
Choose life, choose blessings, and always remember, that ALL things are possible through Christ who strengthens you – even forgiving the unforgivable, because He first forgave the unforgivable in you.
“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 against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” – Colossians 3:12-14
Watch our full episode of Freedom of Forgiveness on The Elena & Natalia Show here.