The Shackles of Unforgiveness

Ephesians 4:32...And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  

Well, here we are, winding down 2023 and getting ready to begin a new year.  Another opportunity to do something new, start fresh, leave the past behind.  God has really dealt with me about forgiveness over the last few months.  I had the opportunity to sit in on a class with my sister recently where we talked about forgiveness. We both shared what that has looked like in our lives.  I shared something the Holy Spirit had spoken to me very recently and I want to share it with you.

Several years ago, I had been hurt so deeply that I felt like I didn't know what forgiveness was anymore. I know, I know... You have to forgive, right?  That's what the Bible tells us, right?  A couple of months ago, I was driving and the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "You know, God sees the person who hurt you exactly the same way He sees you."  WHOA...That made me pause for a minute because that really seems unfair.  I know my identity in Christ.  I've worked hard to believe and know what God says about me.  To name a few, He says I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I am chosen, I am His workmanship, I am created in His image, I am FORGIVEN.  

So, you can see why I paused... But that IS what the Word says, and His Word is for ALL of us.  Every. Single. One. Of. Us.  Ever since that day, when whispers of my past hurt creep in and my feelings don't line up with forgiveness, I remind myself of this and say out loud... "God, you see this person exactly the same way you see me."  And what I find is my heart is softened and I can quickly move my focus to something better.  After all, that whisper from the Holy Spirit is the truth, and John 8:31 tells me that the truth I know sets ME free!!  That's good news!!!

I looked up the word Forgive.  The definition is simply to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.  Just stop feeling angry... I think we complicate it sometimes and we feel like we are somehow letting that person off the hook.  But the person we are really letting off the hook is us.  

What I do know is that unforgiveness holds ME hostage.  Feelings of anger, bitterness, and resentment are slow killers...Killing my joy, my peace, my health.  I don't want to let that happen!  Are you being held hostage by unforgiveness??  

As we step into a new year, I want to challenge you to shake off the shackles of unforgiveness.  We may have to remind ourselves over and over, but that's okay!  Practice makes perfect, right??  Let's start 2024 with the truth...the truth that sets us free!