06
Feb
Forgiveness feels good when it comes my way. It scratches my itch for another chance. It lets me back in when I should be left out.
But when it’s time for me to forgive, forgiveness may feel awkward or even unfair. I know it’s the right thing to do. It’s what Jesus did for us on Calvary’s Cross. It’s what He does for me daily.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. (Psalm 86:5 NLT)
Forgiveness moves us forward. I was reminded of its force when I saw a church sign a few years ago.
It read, “If you stole our stuff, we forgive you.”
As I consider hurt feelings over a recent relationship struggle, the words on the sign inspire me to say, “Although you stole my stuff, I forgive you.”
I don’t know what items were missing from the church. But I do know the “items” missing from my heart.
Trust. Treasured memories. Future plans.
Are stolen items missing from your heart too? Are chunks of dignity or pieces of a dream absent? Forgiveness doesn’t change what happened; but it changes what could happen if we don’t forgive… To continue reading, join me over at Purposeful Faith with Kelly Balarie. I’m thrilled to be her guest contributor this week!
joyce howell
Dear joy I thank you for your message on forgiveness… and it’s so timely for me..since I have recently felt the loss of having to pull-the-plug on a relationship that has proven to have run it’s course and is no longer fruitful..to either of us.. and the pain and loss of being on the other side of the ‘pulling-the-plug ” by someone else.. she too felt our time together had come to a finish.. either way.. it’s a painful experience.. especially when it’s with your fellow church-people.. but the solution is the same.. I’ve found that I like to take this little gimmicky approach..when my mind wanders back to the pain I caused or the pain that was done to me.. I think..and say out loud.
”I bless (meaning I will speak well of this person..and never bring up the issue) I forgive (meaning her/him/them for not living up to my expectations and I’m sure I haven’t lived up to their’s either…and I release..(meaning I let go and LET GOD..)… and the other three ”it’s done…….over and FINISHED”
thanks again for your message.
Joy Ce
Joy
Hi Joyce! May your heart and the hearts of all others involved continue to receive God’s healing. Thanks for sharing your approach to forgiveness too!
Jodie
Yes, forgiveness is so hard! It’s too easy to harbor unforgiveness and bitterness. Thank you for the freedom you offer in reminding us about forgiveness.
Joy
Hi Jodie! May you continue to be encouraged by the freedom God gives.
Laura Ketchie
Oh, I like how you applied the church’s sign message to your own heart! That’s good stuff!
Joy
Thanks Laura – the sign had me stunned! I’ve never forgotten the statement of grace.
Kaleigha
I love “Forgiveness acknowledges what went wrong while trusting God to make it right”!! Thank you for putting it in such eloquent terms😊
Joy
Hi Kaleigha! Sometimes it takes a while to get there. But when we grasp the power of forgiving others, we get to see God do some amazing things in us and through us!
Katie at Pages & Puddles
I love that idea of items stolen from our hearts. 💕
Joy
Thankfully, God can restore what’s been “stolen,” even if the person involved is not involved in the restoration. It hurts but through Him, healing comes. Thanks for stopping by Katie.
Dolly @ Soul Stops
Joy,
Thanks for your post; what struck me was the phrase “chunks of dignity”…only by God’s grace can we forgive because we realize what a debt we owe Christ…a process but worthwhile. Blessings to you 🙂
Joy
Thanks Dolly, blessings to you too!