Forgiving someone who you believe deeply has done you wrong is a process. It is a linear process and will not happen overnight. Not when your hurt cuts through to your soul. It is a linear process because when you forgive someone, your expression goes out to the individual who has hurt you; however, you may not get a response in return because your request is sent to God.
The bible teaches that the “greater the offense the greater the need to forgive your offender.” We all know that this is not an easy task to do especially when you have been hurt deeply by the offender. Think on this: the offender goes on with their daily life thinking very little about the offense. However, you are in pain and hurting. The phenomena about forgiving an offender of yours is that your pain will lessen.
Forgiveness shuts the door on your past. A well-known biblical writer said this about himself, “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching…unto those things which are before.” Paul knew that the only way that he could move on with his life was to forget what had happened to him in the past. In other words, the process for healing is forgetting what has happened to you. The past is gone and there isn’t anything that you can do to bring it back. So, forgive and forget for your sanity and peace of mind.
Complete healing can take months or even years. When someone hurts you deeply, you must purpose in your heart to keep forgiving them until you are free from their influence. No matter what they took from you through abuse, abandonment, betrayal, manipulation, or deceit, bitterness will take more. So, until the issue is resolved in your heart and mind, you will have to keep praying for relief. God that hears you will be the same God that will help you to forgive and forget that which is behind you and live for that which is ahead of you. Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Chaplain Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
