Devotions by Rachel # 11

Devotional #11- Forgiving Others Forgiveness can be a hard thing for all of us. There are times people hurt us and perhaps we deserved it. Yet there are times people hurt us and we truly feel innocent in the matter. Even if we were trying to please the Lord and follow His ways, people can still hurt us deeply. You may never know the full story of their side. You may never know if they meant to hurt you or not. And if you wait for them to apologize you may be waiting forever. If you choose to forgive and move on, you will release yourself from the chains of hurt and bitterness that keep you ensnared. Forgiveness is sometimes easy and sometimes hard. But I think the more we practice forgiveness the more natural it becomes. Like any habit the more you do it the easier it is. Those times you feel you just can’t forgive, go to the Lord and ask Him to help you forgive. I remember once going to the Lord after years of choosing to forgive, yet still feeling the hurt and bitterness that would try to come in from time to time when I thought of the people who hurt me. I broke down crying and told the Lord “I’ve tried and tried to forgive. I’ve chosen to forgive every day. But I feel, I can’t do anything without you. So I need you to do it in me.” Something started happening in me after that. It wasn’t immediate. But it was the Lord healing layers in my heart, enabling me to let go and forgive. Sometimes we think we have to forgive on our own without God’s help because the scripture says if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Mat 6:15). But God is our father and He wants us to come to Him whenever we need help. Don’t be ashamed to go to the Lord because you can’t forgive on your own. Forgiveness does release the person who hurt you. But it also releases you. And that release is so freeing and allows room for more joy in your life. It is worth letting go of the bitterness to have room for the good things in life. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'”