Grace to Forgive

I’ve held onto anger, bitterness, and resentment. I’ve struggled with letting go of past hurts and pain caused by others’ actions and words. Sometimes, I feel like I’m the one losing…

…IF I choose to forgive.

Is that what it’s about? Winning or Losing?

No.

Not really.

But, kind of…it can feel that way.

I know that when I choose to forgive, I’m doing it for me. I’m doing it to sever the steel bond that destructively connects me to a past event: person, place, thing, situation, institution. I’ve found that with forgiveness comes freedom. But what I’ve also found is that with forgiveness, I still hurt. I still have scars…

…I still have the memories.

Forgiveness is a process.

The Lord’s prayer says, “and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” {Mat. 6:12} We are called to forgive, “…not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” {Mat. 18:22} But, there is often a stumbling block — it. is. difficult.

How do we turn that stumbling block into a stepping stone? GRACE.

I honestly never thought about asking for, or inviting grace into the forgiveness process until I tuned into the lyrics of the song “Losing” by Tenth Avenue North. How could I have missed it? Asking God for GRACE.

“Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them; Cause I feel like the one losin’”

Do you struggle with forgiveness? Are you holding on to hurts and pains, anger and resentment? Have you “forgiven” but each time the memory is triggered in your head — the storm in your stomach rages again?

Take a couple of minutes to watch this video…listen to the words. If you haven’t asked for GRACE to forgive, maybe that’s the piece that’s missing…

…in your forgiveness process.