I know it is probably hard for you to believe, but I have had a few folks in my life that have done me wrong. Live long enough and you will be lied to, taken advantage of and possibly left on the side of the road of life with nothing to show for any of it, but a demolished heart and a broken spirit. Most all of us have people in our life, who have done us wrong and really don’t deserve our forgiveness, but forgiveness is not just about the other person it is also about you and me.

People will come and go in your life. If you are blessed and you are, then some of them will stay and be a great asset and blessing. Some will leave, take parts of you with them and it will hurt more than words could ever describe. Not everyone you meet is going to be kind to you. Not everyone is interested in what you think or how you feel. Some of the very people you bless with mercy and grace, will turn around and slap you with pnishment and judgement, but you will survive and if you can learn to forgive, you will ultimatly thrive.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave I to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” -Romans 12:18-21

Live life long enough and you will experience betrayal and it will devestate you, but I can promise you that it is not the end of your life. It will end up being an opportunity to learn and grow. And how do we grow from the things that hurt us so deeply? We practice forgiveness! I said practice, because if we want to get good at something, then we have to practice. When we forgive, we let it go and it probably benefits us more than it does the person we are forgiving, because it sets us free from all the negativity that has been eating away at us.

To forgive does not mean that you approve of what happened, it just means that you are a big enough person to learn from it and grow into the Spirit, God created you to be. It is the realization that there are things in your life, that are not for you to fix, but for you to release to your Creator, so that God might show you faithfulness.

Forgive those who have wronged you, look for their innocence and in the process you will discover your own and experience a freedom unlike anything you’ve ever dreamed of…