I believe that forgiveness is one of the most difficult things we are called to do as Christians. Not because we are harsh humans who are not willing to forgive, but because it can be so dang hard, sometimes feeling almost impossible. People have been cruel to us. They’ve talked badly about us and spread rumors about us and have been just plain mean. But, if we’re being totally honest with ourselves, there have been times when we haven’t been the nicest to everyone around us either.
In life I've come into contact with people who I didn’t think deserved my forgiveness. I thought that they had treated me so poorly that I just couldn’t find it in my heart to forgive them. It was bringing me stress, hostility, judgment, and, of course, guilt. I tried to forgive them on my own, but it was too hard for me to do alone, so I began praying for the courage to forgive them. Slowly, but surely, God began filling me with the grace to forgive. The peace that forgiving them brought me was so overwhelming that I felt an immense amount of negativity being lifted off of my soul. When I tried to forgive on my own I couldn’t do it, but through God I was given the grace to let go of the hurt and show mercy. The fact of the matter is that forgiveness can be so difficult and exhausting that we tend to avoid it. However, that’s the exact opposite of how Jesus forgives us. He is always so open and ready to forgive us. The ease of God’s mercy shows us how much He truly cherishes us. Jesus knows we are not as strong as Him and is patient with us when it comes to forgiving others, but He still insists that we do it. If you are in a situation where you are finding it nearly impossible in your heart to forgive begin the process slowly. God is always patient with us. Start by asking God to alleviate the hurt that was done by the person or persons. In order to forgive we must address the pain that we feel. Then, once the pain has subsided, begin praying for the grace and strength to forgive. All we want in life is to move on from past experiences so that we can embrace the future God has planned for us. But how can we do that if we’re still holding onto hurt and resentment from our past? In order to embrace who we truly are, and continue growing as daughters and sons of God, we must move forward towards a more positive and more forgiving mindset.
XOXO, MC
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