Forgiving.....

Hi Family!!

I've been going through some things lately that have had me in a place where I've had to Forgive. Some to forgive easily. Some turned out to not be so easy. But regardless of whether it is hard for you or not, it is necessary. It's not necessary for the person you are forgiving, but it's necessary for YOU.

If I walk around in unforgiveness, not only am I using up my own emotional strength in frustration, hurt, pain, disappointment, or whatever other feelings I may or may not have. Not only is it the emotional strength that is being used, but also mental strength. I talk about these things, and I know there are people that are like "what is she talking about?". So let me give you an example that has been debated for a long time.

A person that works a physical job 9 hour days can be just as tired as a person that is working 9 hours a day sitting at a computer. The person that is working the physical job is tired, in their body due to the physical wear and tear on their body. The person that had to work the desk job is tired in their mind and emotions because of all the thinking that needs to be done in problem solving or issue resolutions or customer service experiences they may be responsible for. So that is what I mean about the type of energy that is exerted when you have something on your heart and mind.

So as you can see, walking around in unforgiveness is like walking around in your own bubble. Some people will have put themselves in that bubble thinking that the purpose it to protect themselves. And that may be true, but in that bubble they are keeping all those emotions in also.

And you may be walking around in False Forgiveness. If you can say "I forgave" but find yourself still walking in bitterness or resentment, then you haven't truly forgiven. For example, this type of person says something like "Nah, I'm good with them. I'm not mad at all." or "It's whatever." or "It is what it is. I'm good." If you catch yourself saying that, you may be walking in False Forgiveness.

So remember, Forgiveness is not to release the other person from what they did to you. Usually that person has moved on with their lives and forgotten about you and what upset you. It's for you. I love the quote that Nelson Mandela said. He put it perfectly.  

"Resentment is like drinking poison, then hoping it will kill your enemies."

Can't quite put it any clearer in my book. I won't go into all the statistics of what bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness do to your health. I will leave that up to you to look up. But I'll tell you what the Word says about it.

Here are a few scriptures for how to deal with someone that you HAVE to work with or see regularly. How to handle some sort of relationship with them.

Romans 12:19-20 NLT says

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the scriptures say "I will take revenge; I will pay them back" says the Lord. Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads."

Here is a scripture for how to forgive someone that really doesn't think they did anything wrong to you.

Luke 23:34a NLT says

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."

Maybe you did something wrong in response to someone doing something wrong to you. That's never good, but there is a scripture that can help you in that too. You see, you want to ask for forgiveness, but what about the forgiveness you are to give the one who wronged you? Yea, there is one for this situation too.

Matthew 6:14-15 NLT says

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

You see, forgiveness is necessary in life. And whether you attach your faith to one of these scriptures, or you can connect with the quote by Nelson Mandela does not matter. Forgiveness does not mean that you are ready or willing to put yourself back in a position to be hurt again. It only means that no matter what decisions you decide to make from that moment, you are willing NOT to dwell on it or hold the other responsible (in a sense) of what happened. Free yourself from the hurts of others, so you can work on moving forward in a mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy way.

I love you all! Be Blessed!!!