C S Lewis said, ‘Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.’
Author Mac Anderson writes, ‘A few times in my life I have been wronged. My first reaction was anger and resentment. I felt my stomach tie up in knots, my appetite wane, and the joy slip out of my life like I had played the first half of a basketball game in steel shoes. In the locker room the coach said, “Try these new Nikes in the second half.” Multiply that by ten and you will understand how it feels to unload your emotional baggage through the power of forgiveness.’
Jesus dismissed the myth that love is based on feelings. It is an act of your will, and if you love God you will keep His commandments. It’s that simple. If you are struggling to forgive someone who has hurt you, here are some scriptural guidelines to help you.
Don’t seek retribution. Instead, ‘overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:21). God said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay’ (Romans 12:19).
Don’t rush to judgment. That is not always easy when you are the injured party, but the ultimate Judge said, ‘With what judgment you judge, you will be judged’ (Matthew 7:2 NKJV). Make things right. Jesus said, ‘be reconciled to your brother’ (Matthew 5:24 NIV).
Don’t wait for the other person to make the first move, you do it. Paul says, ‘Make every effort to live in peace with all men’ (Hebrews 12:14 NIV). Pray for the offender. As much as it goes against your grain, when you ‘pray for those who mistreat you’ (Luke 6:28 NIV), God gives you the grace to forgive and see them through His eyes.
