Forgiveness is Always Essential

When someone hurts you, forgiveness is an essential part of healing. When someone hurts you beyond what you are normally capable of dealing with, it may take some time. But when that time arrives for forgiveness, you have to forgive and do some forgetting. No matter the hurt, confusion or emotion. Regardless of the leftover feelings of distrust, disloyalty and disappointment, there will come a time for it. Even though you are struggling to breathe at the mere mention of their name or the situation that has you so bound.

You forgive them anyway, in every way you possibly can until the Holy Spirit gives you peace about it.

You ask Jesus to forgive you, and you pray for healing.

Then, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on.

Forgiving someone else is an entire process. Your perspective can be skewed by feelings of self-righteous thoughts and a sense of being owed something. It can be hard because there is still a level of anger, disappointment and hurt. There may be something holding you back- an attitude of pride or a major loss can be the reason. Forgiveness is not optional- it is scripturally mandatory. Believers must come to the conclusion that Christ is willing to forgive us- we must be willing to forgive others, no matter the situation. No one said it would be easy, but it is clearly necessary.

In Psalm 103:12 “as far as the East is from the West, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

East can never meet West, therefore, with forgiveness, comes forgetting. In this verse, we are to be separated from our sin, the very thing we need forgiveness for. This separation has to be forever, and as far apart as possible.  If this is true, then shouldn’t we also forget when we forgive? If we are to forgive and move forward, we need to separate the violation from the violator and move past it, never seeing it again, never allowing emotions or circumstance to rekindle the act.

Forgiveness provides a spiritual freedom unknown in any other circumstance. It allows us to be humble, and in our humility to be brave. Forgiveness for the smallest infraction can have such an impact on another person, and on yourself; we put into motion things which can ripple out, showing the love of Christ. Forgiveness points to the cross and the ultimate goal of heaven. The road can be long, and it will never be perfect.

The path of a Christian is not promised to be free of diversions and obstacles. This path is only promising to lead us to eternity, a place without troubles, sin and hurt; arriving there is when everything here becomes worth the fight. Forgiveness is worth the struggle. It is worth the heartache to give. It is worth the growth, the tears, and the humility.  Forgiveness is worth eternity.