The words cut to my core.
Sharp like a knife, they sliced through my ears and pierced my heart.
James was spot-on when he wrote the tongue being “a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
The one who voiced those slicing words has no idea how still today, years later, when I drive the stretch of road on which they were said to me, I again hear them. Only now, the words are muffled, and the knife is much more dull. The pain is gone. Only the scar remains.
Naturally, I stink at forgiveness. I tend to wallow in my pain. I tend to hold a grudge. And part of me wants to get back at the one who hurt me. So it’s no surprise I let my offender’s words influence me and my life for far too long. Until the day I let them go, and chose to forgive the one who hurt me.
Without my offender asking for forgiveness.
Without making the wrong, “right.”
Without the thought that by forgiving, I was justifying the offense.
Without fighting for “my rights.”
I knew I needed to forgive so I could move on. And I knew from experience, if I didn’t, I would be miserable. The sharpness of the knife would cut deeper and deeper each time I relived it.
It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. I diligently asked God to help me forgive. To soften my heart toward my offender. To heal my wounded heart. To dull the knife.
And over time, He did.
As we gather together on this Woman to Woman Wednesday, I imagine you and your heart have been wounded by another. Maybe you are very much aware of the pain and the hurt. Or, maybe you’ve pushed it down so far that you’re numb by it.
A truth: The hurt will remain until you let go and forgive.
It’s okay to let it go. In fact, it’s necessary for healing.
–Forgiveness isn’t condoning what the person did.
It’s freeing you from it.–
–Forgiveness isn’t about getting revenge.
It’s letting God deal with it.–
It’s truly letting go, and letting God.
It’s quite a freeing thing. Letting God heal you, letting God handle the offense, and letting God work in the offender’s life.
All the while you are moving on, becoming the woman God is creating you to be!
Will you encourage another by sharing below a time in you life when, with God’s help, you forgave an offense? How did it affect you? Why are you at peace today because of it? Or, share how you may be struggling with forgiveness now. What step can you take today to begin to let it go?
Thanks for joining me on this Woman to Woman Wednesday! May God bless you as you work through forgiveness today.
Julie
W2W – Woman to Woman Wednesdays are our opportunity to encourage each other through God’s life-giving Word. I link up with my friend Meredith at www.4hisgloryblog.com.
Oh, Julie, your words are as spot-on as James’ were. I naturally stink at forgiveness, too, but you are right, there is complete freedom in offering it to those who wrong us. It has been a process for me over the years to learn how to let go and let God. I suppose it always will be. But the more we practice it, the easier it gets, right? Thank you for linking up today. I’m so encouraged by your words and support! xoxo, Meredith
Thank you, Meredith. It’s still a process for me, but I agree with you. The more we practice it, the easier it gets. Glad to have you in my life! <3