Getting Past the Hurt

Mark 11:25

 

25And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

 

These words were from Jesus himself. Forgiveness is a touchy subject but even Jesus understood the pain because it took forgiveness for Him to get up on the cross knowing He was innocent. The NKJ Study Bible gives a translation of the verse as, "Though prayer is the most powerful resource known to man, it becomes impotent when the one praying harbors unforgiveness."

 

When someone does something to harm you it hurts. Most people don't get past the hurt enough to forgive. The mindset becomes, 'I will never forgive that person for what they've done." But what you don't understand is that hurt turns to bitterness in your heart. The bitterness can blind you so badly that you may even replay the pain to the point you get even and not always with the person who actually harmed you. Sometimes, it can be anyone who gets close enough to you. It is not easy to forgive but you must. Forgiving the person doesn't mean you need to hang around them nor does it mean you need to put yourself in the place of danger of being hurt by them again. What it does mean is you acknowledge what happened; you acknowledge that you cannot change what has happened though it was wrong. You know the person may never even have the courage or humility to even apologize for what they've done to harm you. But what you can do is make the choice to not be bitter and to know that God will still use what was done for your good so that He may get the glory. You can make the choice to let go. It is about letting love rule your heart and not hate. God is love and even in His anger He still loves.

 

Do you remember the story of Jonah? Many assume the story of Jonah is just about his disobedience to God in completing the assignment He gave him. But Jonah's reasoning for not wanting to take the assignment was because the people of Nineveh were enemies of the Israelites and had mistreated them horribly. Jonah was assigned to warn the people of Nineveh to turn from their wicked ways and repent. Jonah knew that if he delivered that message, God would spare them. Jonah wanted them to pay for what they had done. It wasn't Jonah's decision to do anything but what God told him to do. God has the final say on what happens to anyone no matter what they've done, even to you. His grace and mercy is made available to anyone who will accept. You did. It is more than likely you did something to harm someone and never had enough humility to say what you did to them was wrong, but Jesus welcomed you into the family right? God considers you His son or daughter right?

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