Where Are You on the Forgiveness Chart?

Where are you on the chart of forgiveness? Does it rank right up there with one of the hardest things you have to do or do you forgive easily?

I must confess that forgiveness for me is difficult.  Just when I think I have forgiven someone, Satan brings to mind the offense of that one I have chosen to forgive and I am on that merry-go-round once more. And, from what I read in the social media, I’d say there are others who have difficult forgiving.

I don’t believe forgiveness is a onetime thing. I think we have to continually pray that God will help us to forgive that individual that has hurt us.  After all, when Peter came to Jesus and ask how many times he must forgive someone, Jesus didn’t hesitate.  He said "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:22 NIV. Jesus knew me well; He knew the difficulty I have in letting go of offenses so He allows me to continue to forgive even if it takes a lifetime.

Someone shared with me that if I would pray for that individual every time their offense was brought to mind, it would be much easier for me to let go of the hurt.  I will admit I did try that and it did help……at least for a time until Satan saw me getting a little too comfortable with the ease of forgiveness and he drug it up again; put it directly in my path so I couldn’t  miss it.

When we pray for God to intervene in that person’s life and realize that God loves them as much as He loves each of us, then perhaps, forgiving gets a bit easier.  After all, God has promised that He will take care of the sins of others and I don’t have to.

What a relief that is !

“Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” Romans 12:19 The Message