Learning To Forgive Like God Does
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Learning To Forgive Like God Does

Finding the path to forgiving the unforgivable

73
Learning To Forgive Like God Does
Aspire Mag

A lot of things in life are deemed "unforgivable".

Breaking a promise. Breaking someone's trust. Breaking someone's heart.

The people that are the closest to you seem to be more prone to hurting you and doing what we may think is unforgivable. When we can't move past this, we become prisoner to our worst experiences.

When this happens to you in your life, and someone you care about disappoints or betrays you, it's easy to become bitter towards the world. God wants us to respond in a different way when we are hurt and full of anger.

Read these words that Jesus told his people:

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
(Luke 6:27-28)

In the following verses Jesus gives several examples of how to treat those who have hurt you, and He concludes with,

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (vs. 36)

When you feel hurt, Jesus simply says that we are to love our enemies or the people that have caused you pain. Although this isn't always easy in our lives, it is needed and required from everybody. A person's normal response to someone who hurts them is to hurt them back. When we do this, we fall into the same sinful gutter the other person is already in. We stoop to the person's level, and we ourselves are no better than the person who has hurt us.

Simply pray for the person, give it to God, and go to sleep.

The unforgivable is hard to forget, and it can be hard to pray for a person who has hurt us. This isn't about the person: it's about you. When you hold onto all that anger and hurt and choose not to forgive that person, you are doing more harm to your well being than you are to theirs.

If you don't get past the wounds of the past, you will bring them into everything else you pursue. No one said forgiveness was an easy process. The first step to forgiving is understanding what forgiveness is--it's not reconciling or forgetting. However, it is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge for that person, and reaching a place of understanding for that person.

Forgiveness doesn't excuse or justify what that person did; it helps you reach an inner peace. You are not doing this for them, you are doing this for yourself. We all do things that can be unforgivable and we all need to be forgiven.

This all means that the greatest benefit from following God's words to bless those who have hurt and betray you comes to you. God will bless you. Even though you are hurt and betrayed, forgive the unforgivable.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

82358
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

49913
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

982511
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments