Released
As thoughts have come and gone throughout the days, I have often been carried back to a time in my life when a close friend, whom I greatly admired, had so disappointed and confused me that I became disillusioned with friendship and established norms. It even shook my confidence as a mother and a wife. And during that time, many years ago, as my mind tried to cope with the pain of cruel words that stung my heart, my self-esteem was damaged. This is a burden that I carried with me for many years, constantly reliving the experience. I would go over and over that time, replaying each conversation and every barbed word that was colored with manipulation, and wonder if the person really knew what they did to me or if they were sorry at all. In Brandon Heath’s song, “I’m Not Who I Was”, he sings of a past relationship colored with pain, and the heart changes that come through forgiveness. When I first heard this song I searched my heart and quickly saw that I was holding onto a pain that I needed to let go and leave at the feet of Jesus. I understood that by constantly reliving those memories and allowing the bitter root of an unforgiving heart to grab hold of me, I was only hurting myself more. I was enabling myself to be kept under the stronghold of the person whose actions had hurt me years ago.
When people have wronged us, the damage can be great. Pain and anger from situations long past can still color how we experience life today. But God has the answer to our grief. He has given us instructions how to let go of the pain through His own example. We are to forgive. “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). As you read this, you may be thinking, just as I was, that the person who caused such pain doesn’t deserve forgiveness…and you are right. No one does. But that’s where mercy comes in. God gave us the ultimate example through His forgiveness of our sins, both past, present and future. We didn’t deserve His forgiveness. We didn’t earn it, for we couldn’t. Instead, God forgave us out of love.
In His great wisdom God tells us that by forgiving others it releases us from the chains that keep us imprisoned in our agony. It allows us to release our anger and receive the healing we so desperately need. Forgiving others spares us from the consequences of living out of an unforgiving heart. It doesn’t mean that we need to put ourselves back into a situation that is dangerous or would cause further harm. Forgiveness is not saying what someone did to us was right or just. It is submitting it to God, knowing that He will take care of it. Forgiveness is a matter of the heart and the decision we make to release our pain to Jesus. It is a conscious choice. God’s word says to “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken” (Psalm 55:22). Our God is more than strong enough to handle everything that imprisons us. He holds the key that will set us free.
Are there people in your past, maybe some who have already left this earth, who have hurt you? Do they have control of your heart even now? Then, come to Jesus. Let go of the pain and leave it at His feet. He will release you from the chains that hold you to a life of bitterness and sorrow. And as you pray for the strength to let go of the ache you feel, God will come and cover you with His healing love. He will comfort you and lead you into a life where you are free to experience His joy and peace. And that, dear friends, is the miracle of amazing grace.
Living for Him,
You can read more devotionals by Joan by visiting her blog The Beauty in His Grip
Really well written and so very true. It is usually the case that when we are still holding onto thr hurt the offender has long since forgotten. Jesus wants us free of our baggage so we are able to stretch out our arms and learn to love again, to embrace life and all that he has before us.
Thank you so much for the encouraging words, Joan. I needed to read it this morning. You are right; we should take out hurts to Him who can heal the heart.
One of the things that has always helped me with regards to forgiving others is to remember how much God has forgiven me. If a sinless God can forgive a sinner like me, then how can I, a sinner, not forgive another sinner?
Boy howdy Joan, I sure have lived here. Such a powerful and truth filled post. Thank you.