Forgiveness

by Dawn Lee

    Forgiveness. How can a word bring such turmoil into your life but give you such peace at the same time? Why is so hard to give forgiveness but so wonderful to receive?

    There are so many words for forgiveness: absolution, exoneration, clemency, indulgence and the one that jumped out at me was MERCY. Mercy is forgiveness? Wow, that is amazing to learn! It's not that I didn't know what mercy meant but I never equated it to true forgiveness. In my mind's eye, mercy is a pardon; and still another word for pardon? Forgiveness!

    I finally understand what true mercy from God is. It's His forgiveness for our transgressions, our sins that we commit against others and against His commandments that He gave us to live by. God knew we would sin, that we would break His heart. No matter how much He loved us, no matter how many times He tried to show us the right way - His way - we would fail miserably as humans. God tried so many times to right our wrongs, gave us signs to follow His lead instead of our wordly ways. There were plagues, droughts, famines. It got some of us to take heed, but a lot more of us didn't.

    So what did God do to show us how much He loves us? God sent His beloved Son to save us all. My heart aches knowing what Jesus went through on this earth to give us the peace He wants us to have- the grace and MERCY that our Father wants to give to us - which by all rights we don't deserve, or so most of us think. Jesus walked this earth loving unconditionally, healing the weak and broken, performing miracles beyond belief, giving hope where there was none and above all showing mercy where others wouldn't.He did not discriminate. What most considered misfits, were loved unconditionally by Jesus. He forgave those who hurt Him, betrayed Him, lost faith in Him, without blinking an eye.

    The more that I learn through the Word of God, the more I learn just how precious and wonderful was the act of love Jesus gave to us when he was given that cross to bear. He was in such agony, felt so alone... all for us! All so we would know his Father's unconditional love for us and we would have God's mercy, His forgiveness. He knew we would be born in sin and it's the only way we could truly see His love for us and could draw us closer to Him, for Him to protect, love, bless and show us His mercy.

    God knows we will hurt others and others will hurt us - sometimes intentional, sometimes not. I will be the first to say, sometimes it is hard to forgive those we love -- REALLY hard. Especially when you feel like you've had your heart ripped out of your chest!

    I find myself more and more comparing my hurt to Jesus bearing that Cross for me. What's been done to me doesn't seem that bad compared to what He went through. I stop, I think, I pray for guidance and give it to God. Only then can you truly forgive that person.

    Our heavenly Father wants to protect us from harm, He wants us to have peace. The only way to have that peace is to let God handle your hurt, your pain. He doesn't like to see us hurting, but if we don't tell Him, if we don't lay it at His feet, then how can He help us? Your hurt will fester into anger, and angry words to actions. Who are you hurting in the long run? No one but yourself. One of my favorite quotes is "Not forgiving another is like poisoning yourself and expecting them to die."

    One of the hardest persons to forgive is ourselves! We have all made mistakes in life. We are all sinners. Some may believe that some sinners are worse than others, but that's not true. We are all sinners. He loves us all unconditionally.         We are all able to receive God's grace and His mercy. That's the gift He gave us on that cross. There is no discrimination or distinction on the sins you have committed. He loves you!              All we have to do is repent and ask - you shall receive all that He promises.

So why live one more day in turmoil because of that word - forgiveness. Why not give forgiveness to those in your life that have hurt you. Don't let them take another minute away from true peace God has waiting for you. Forgive yourself, because you Father doesn't want you to live another day not feeling His love, His grace, His mercy.