“Forgive and forget.”
It sounds so easy. I don’t like conflict so forgiveness usually comes quickly for me, but oh, the forgetting–that is where I have a hard time. The sting of past offenses stay with me, and the enemy uses them to distract me and even bring out sin I am ashamed of.
About ten years ago, I found out something had been said about me and it crushed me. To make the situation even more difficult to walk away from, this was not a person I could avoid. Someone I was going to be around for a long time had said these hurtful things. Despite my hurt and disappointment, I knew I was going to have to live with this remark and move on. I knew I didn’t want to hold a grudge, so I decided to take the comment for what it was worth and forgive in my heart.
Don’t Let Hurtful Words Destroy
As I said, this person is a part of my life, and whom I love. I’ve had good times with this person as well. In fact, I’ve even grown a little as the comment has helped me. However, that doesn’t mean I’m without memory of what happened. To this day I cringe when the memory pops up. I often feel intimidated and insecure around this person, all because of that one comment made ten years ago. The enemy wants to stir up past wounds and put anger in our hearts. He is out to destroy our godly relationships with others and wreak chaos in God’s kingdom. We can’t let that happen. We must put into practice the instructions offered in Colossians:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.
How Can I Forgive?
I don’t believe I have to forget about my past grievances in order to forgive. I just need to be able to handle these hurts with:
- compassion, as I seek to understand my offender’s point of view and situation;
- kindness, as I choose to be respectful and pleasant despite how I’ve been treated;
- humility, as I examine myself, and my own fault, realizing that I need Jesus to make me whole;
- gentleness, as I respond to offenses, with my words, thoughts, and actions;
- and patience, as I understand that this might happen again, and it might be difficult to move on.
When I read the phrase “Bear with each other,” it reminds me of ongoing struggles. It tells me there will be those who drive me crazy and might even upset me, but it’s not my right to hold a grudge. I’m to bear and forgive. I’m to live with it, and move on, realizing that the only perfect one is Christ.
Above all, I must remember to love. Strong’s Concordance defines this agape love as benevolent. It’s a love we give, not because it has been earned, not because we “feel” it, but because it is the right thing to do.
Bearing Each Other is Hard Labor
Learning how to move past my offenses in a godly way has been life-changing for me. I wish I could say that it’s easy, but “bearing each other” is hard labor. We should take the step of forgiveness, but we mustn’t forget that our relationship with that person isn’t over yet. The regard we hold each other in and the way we interact is important. We will likely feel the sting again, but we can move forward in love if we take on the characteristics described in Colossians 3. It is also helpful to remember that our enemy is Satan–not each other.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
We must move past the grievances we have toward one another so that God’s kingdom is made stronger.
Do You Have Unforgiven Past Hurts?
What past hurts are lingering in your heart? Are you open to bearing and forgiving? It sounds hard, but you don’t have to do this on your own. You have a Father who understands because he continues to lavish his children with perfect forgiveness and reconciliation. Our Lord can empower you to bear and forgive, offering you the support you need. Won’t you seek Him?
Father God, You are Lord of the universe, yet you seek us out, one by one, drawing us to you in perfect reconciliation. Thank you for the forgiveness and life you offer us through your son. Thank you for your presence in our life and may we draw strength from you as we seek to have compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in our relationships with others, bearing with each other and forgiving. Forgive us for the times we struggle to forgive and fail to take on these characteristics. Give us strength and wisdom to be united as your church in love. In Jesus Name, Amen
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I find that I sometimes have to ask God to relieve me of my anger because I cannot do it myself. I also find that I must be willing to do the work of forgiveness, forgiving on a moment by moment basis.
Forgiveness is a hard thing to learn. And we have to relearn it with each offense. So thankful God doesn’t hold grudges.
Our pastors msg last night was on this exact topic. So very important
But we also have to let go – if we have forgiven the other person…..
Kristin, you have deep and beautiful insight. It is so easy to allow our minds to replay something that was said or done and not be able to let it go. God’s spirit makes it possible. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
Forgiveness is handing the hurt over to God and asking Him to take it from us, and praying for blessing for the person who has wronged us.
Forgiveness is certainly hard and I never thought to grow from my lack of forgetting. I love the way you lay out God’s words and how to apply them to forgiveness!
Yes, forgiveness is so important in our relationships. Bearing with each other IS a lot of work but so worth it.
Such insightful thoughts. It is so much easier to dwell on one mean thing someone said than to remember all the kind things they have said! When thoughts of past offenses pop into my mind I try to visualize the person in my mind at a time when they have said or done a kindness towards me. It helps me remember that there is good in them and that needs to be my focus as I look on them in love!
Forgiveness is so simple and so hard. Forgive and forget is a great motto to keep in marriage.