Be Free

When someone wrongs you, the process of forgiveness can be a painful and arduous one. You are left alone sifting through hurtful words and replaying the painful episodes of what you experienced. The injury can be so distressing that it paralyzes you and leaves you in a place where you cannot move forward. 

When someone hurts you, you may find that your mind keeps rehashing what someone did to you. If you find yourself in this situation, you are harboring the sin of resentment. Although the person may have done something wrong, your resentment is more damaging to you in the long run. My friend, this is a part of the enemy’s plan.

Your enemy wants to keep you hurt, broken, and blinded that you cannot see your way out. He wants to distract you from the possibility of forgiveness and to keep you wrestling with your emotions. 

2 Corinthians 2:11 says, To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.

Your enemy will do everything in his weak power to keep you from living a life of freedom. Forgiveness brings freedom. When you forgive, you can be free from the hurt and pain that had you captivated and unable to move. 

Our Christian walk is not easy. God often requires us to do the hard thing, but it is the right thing to do. The act of forgiving someone is not sitting around waiting for a feeling of forgiveness to arrive, yet it is a move of faith. It takes faith to forgive when you do not “feel” like doing it. Take everything that your offender has done and lay it at the feet of Jesus. He is our healer and our true redeemer. 

I can remember being in such a hurtful situation that I barely saw my way out. My eyes were blurred from the sorrow I felt and my mind was full of the evidence I gathered as reasons why I could not forgive. When I went to God in prayer, I could not find the words or the strength to define my pain. I chose to write my prayer in my journal. I named the offender and the offense. I asked God to help me to forgive and to release me from being tormented by the painful memories. 

2 Corinthians 2:5-7 explains forgiveness in this way: 5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

As Christian, we are to forgive others and bless our enemy. We are to pray for those who mistreat us and despitefully use us. Praying for your offender is not an easy task. But if God commanded it, I can assure you there is a reward! With God as our guide and help, we can forgive. May God release you and heal you from the pain that you have harbored. May you find peace and forgiveness in God. Have faith in God. He will bring you to freedom.