Forgiveness is for YOU!

Forgiveness is for YOU!

Forgiveness is not a gift given to others but rather a gift to you.

Forgiveness is more than just releasing the offender of their guilt; rather it is a release for YOU!

We are ALL offenders (as the Bible tells us that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23) in some way or another.

Why should I forgive?

First and most importantly, the answer is:  so that YOU can be forgiven by God.

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven”.  Luke 6:37

So, if you refuse to forgive others, then God can’t forgive you.

Secondly, you have to forgive for your own health.  Unforgiveness leads to anger and bitterness.  People who live under these conditions end up with heart problems, stomach problems, muscular tension (which leads to an onslaught of pain), trouble with wounds healing properly due to lack of proper blood flow and so many other physical ailments.

Thirdly, you will be emotionally wounded as you allow the anger and bitterness to grow and THIS will affect every relationship you are involved in. 

It makes NO sense to refuse to forgive when the person who is harmed the most is YOU! 

It’s not always easy to forgive but it becomes a bit easier when you begin to realize that you yourself are capable of doing the greatest of evils if only circumstances were different.   We don’t know EVERYTHING that the person who offended you has withstood in their lifetime that has formed their belief system and their emotions and the decisions that they make.  If God had placed us in their situation, we cannot guarantee that we would not have made the same mistake or poor choice.  “Except for the grace of God, there go I.”  I live by this statement and it has helped me to forgive some horrific abuse and meanness that I have had to endure.  Some people believe that forgiveness means that we then go back and embrace the person and pull them back into a close relationship again.  It doesn’t always mean that.  Sometimes it just means that we accept the fact that “Except for the grace of God, there go I”s and to wish no harm but only God’s perfect plan for them.  It allows us freedom from the hate and anguish and suffering that we submit ourselves to when we CHOOSE to hold on to the unforgiveness!

Just ask God for the strength, love and mercy to make the choice to forgive!

                                                                                                                          Catherine Smit-Torrez