Yesterday we talked about how to apologize. Today let’s focus on the broken side of forgiveness.
Forgiving another is tough. Especially dependent on how you were wronged. If you are apologized to immediately it is vastly different than if you are apologized to ten years later.
So do you forgive? Should you forgive?
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15 ESV)
And just like with apologizing, you can’t just do it in your head. If somebody asks for your forgiveness your response should be “I forgive you.” Those are sometimes three very difficult words to say.
Reflect on how Yahweh forgives us. We sin countless times every day. We don’t even acknowledge some of our sins out of ignorance. But we should still come before Him repenting. Saying “Father, I know that I sinned against You today. Please, help me to see where I am falling away and open my eyes to Your truth. Show me how to love Your children. Father, forgive me.”
And you know what? He will. You came before Him apologizing rightly and He will forgive you. And He will throw that sin as far away as the east is from the west. That sin is gone. But you need to go and sin no more.
Apologizing and forgiving are life long. We are human and we will, unfortunately, always hurt others. Even if it’s on complete accident. And we will always be hurt and forgiving needs to be well learned. When you forgive somebody you are allowing a fellow failing human to repent. You don’t know their heart, whether they mean their apology or not. But God does. And He will take care of you. He will tend to you in your brokenness and He will rebuild you.
Blessings!
